IPL 2025: Lucknow Super Giants mentor and former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan on Sunday exuded confidence that express pacer Mayank Yadav’s bowling speed will improve as he plays more matches in the IPL. The right-arm tearaway pacer Mayank made his comeback after a long injury lay-off, picking up two wickets against Mumbai Indians.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Well, the wait was long and for anyone who is playing after so many months, to get back
00:07into the game is always that one huddle which one needs to cross as a bowler.
00:13So that's how I'm looking at it.
00:16That's why if you see from our side, the effort was to bring him in as impact in the
00:21last couple of games.
00:22So even though he had joined the team, we were taking our time just to create that comfort
00:27around him.
00:28You know that fast bowling is never easy especially in this format when the batters are coming
00:31so hard at you.
00:32So that was the thought process.
00:33So I'm glad that he has got through the game so that one huddle is crossed.
00:37So I'm hopeful that with the scheduling which we have, there will be enough breaks also
00:44for him to recover and then go again.
00:47I'm happy with the way he's bowled.
00:51Like I said, it's important that he had to get through the game.
00:56So he stayed on the 20 overs, he's bowled 4 overs.
01:01The execution is only going to get better.
01:03The speeds is only going to get better as he plays more.
01:06That's the way I'm looking at it.
01:08So yeah, I mean, looking at and considering all the things, I'm happy with the way he's
01:13gone about considering it's the first game for him.
01:15You're spot on.
01:16I think you know that's something which the reliance on the top three is something which
01:32has been the template of the season for us.
01:34So we wanted to continue.
01:35You know, that's something which we badly need as a team.
01:41You know, the freedom of expression is something which we've been talking about.
01:44All of us have been making that conscious effort of creating that fearless approach.
01:53You know, that is something which as a group we've been trying to achieve.
01:57Looking at the process, there's definitely a dip right now with regard to that when you're
02:01looking at LSG.
02:03And that's something which we need to address.
02:05So as a group, we are definitely looking forward to this break so that we can iron out all these
02:11things which are creeping in.
02:13The top order needs to continue what they've been doing and the middle order needs to really
02:19fire for them to give that support as well.
02:22IPL is a long tournament, so all these things one needs to be aware of.
02:27And as a group, you need to keep pushing yourself and keep digging deep.
02:34Zaid, is Rishab sort of feeling the pressure of the prize side that can happen to players?
02:42I wouldn't relate it to anything like that.
02:45You know, it's a team, he's a leader and he's been fantastic as a leader.
02:51That's something which I can vouch for.
02:54You know, the kind of efforts he's been taking to make sure that each and every individual
03:00in that group is comfortable, is heard.
03:03And the planning to everything which goes around in IPL, he's been spot on.
03:11So as a leader, he's ticking all the boxes.
03:14As a batter, like I said, the middle order is dependent on Rishab.
03:19And I'm very confident that the impact which we want from him will come.
03:25It's just about, you know, something clicking.
03:29So I wouldn't relate it to pressure.
03:31You've seen that, you know, he's a kind of personality.
03:33What's happened in the last game, it's something which is gone by.
03:38And what's going to happen, he's a very, very optimistic and a positive personality.
03:43So from our side, it's just about, you know, continuing with that.
03:47I think it's about going and executing and doing the job for the team.
04:08So in terms of his preparation, we've had constant dialogue with the NCA.
04:14So I was updated, the physios were updated, the trainers were updated.
04:18There is a plan in place about how he should be approaching,
04:21what kind of programs he should be following.
04:24And we are just creating that environment for him to just flourish.
04:30You know, you've seen with him in the last one, one and a half years,
04:36when you've been coming in, bowling and then, you know, having these kind of setbacks.
04:43It can play on your mind as well.
04:45So, you know, you've got to comfort that side of things as well.
04:49And with Mayank, we've taken that kind of approach.
04:52So I'm happy that he's gotten through the game and I'm happy to see him field all the 20 overs
04:59and the processes which he's been following.
05:02I feel it's only going to get better is what my instinct tells me.
05:07For him, it's just about, you know, getting through each and every game
05:10and following the processes in consultation with the physios and the trainers.
05:14I think that's just the nature of the game, I think, you know, it's so dynamic at times.
05:36You can't really pinpoint what matters is how you're preparing for a game
05:41and, you know, what kind of time and energy you're putting in addressing or practicing fielding.
05:48I've seen pretty much in all the franchise,
05:52you've seen that the time and energy has been put in with regard to that.
05:58Yet, you see things happening in the game, it's just the nature of the game.
06:03Coach, just wanted to get some understanding of the decision to free first.
06:08It looked like a very good picket on both the games.
06:11How did the picket change towards the later half of the game?
06:14Well, we've seen in many day games, as the sun goes down, the lights come on,
06:21you've seen the pitch becoming better, you know.
06:24That's something which is the case.
06:26So that's pretty standard with regard to that.
06:29I didn't think that pitch changed drastically.
06:32It's just some good batting.
06:34Our bowlers have been put under pressure.
06:37Rickleton really started off well.
06:39He put the bowlers under pressure, set that tone for the innings and Surya then doing what Surya does.
06:46It was always going to be a challenging game.
06:48I felt at halfway mark that this kind of total with the kind of power which we have.
06:54If you approach the game right, if you have that fearless approach, we could have created that scenario for us.
07:01And keeping up with the rate didn't happen.
07:04So you accept what has happened.
07:06And like I said, you know, ten games down, five wins, five losses is where we stand.
07:11Not having such a great net run rate.
07:13So I think it's about just playing some good cricket and making sure that we don't rely on the net run rate.
07:19I think, you know, that's something which as a group we need to be aware of and we need to be very clear that if you're talking about going on to win the tournament, you've got to play some good cricket.
07:29You know, you've got to react to the situations.
07:32And I'm confident that if this group reacts in that fashion and that's the environment which we've created, if we live up to that, you know, you've seen the momentum really carrying you through.
07:48And if any team has to peak, you know, if this team peaks, then the kind of power which this team has can really do something special is what I'm hoping for.
08:00Like I said, look, it's a long tournament, you know, you've seen Shardul when he started the tournament.
08:14He's done a phenomenal job for this setup.
08:17We needed to create a training window also for him.
08:20And that's what we've done.
08:22Like I said, it's a long tournament.
08:24So we are keeping things in mind.
08:26There are some tactical calls which we've been taking.
08:30So we thought that, you know, it's an opportunity for us to bring Mayang in the tournament.
08:35And that's the reason we've given complete off for Shardul to really get ready for the back end of the tournament.
08:41Last two questions.
08:43Hello, Zaheer.
08:44At what point for LHG does Rishabh's lack of runs become a concern?
08:48And what are the conversations that you all have with him at training when he bats?
08:53Or what is the message that you send him in terms of his role?
08:56How he could kind of get back among the runs and all that?
08:59Look, when you're talking about a team, you know, you're talking about winning the tournament.
09:03You're talking about winning the trophy.
09:05And we've identified Rishabh as that leader who is going to take this team forward.
09:11So there is no doubt about that.
09:13You know, there are going to be contributors.
09:15There are going to be people who are going to hit form.
09:18There are going to be people who are going to be short on form.
09:22You know, that's the way the game goes.
09:25I think, you know, what as a group we are looking at is still the goal which collectively we are walking towards.
09:32And we know that in the back end of the tournament now, the pressure is going to be high.
09:37So that's the focus.
09:39And it's about finding that one innings.
09:42You know, that is something for anyone I always say.
09:45So my chat is pretty simple all the time.
09:47You know, you got to have that belief.
09:49You got to walk the talk and you got to have that confidence.
09:54You know, so that's the kind of environment we've set in our LSG setup this year.
09:58And that's the beginning of something, you know, which you'll see.
10:01That's why I'm saying that, you know, all the teams pretty much in points, not far away from each other.
10:08One thing I'm aware of is when you're looking at the net run rate side of things, maybe we don't have a lot to see there.
10:16But I think if you're playing good cricket, then good teams don't really think about that.
10:22That happens as a process.
10:23And that's what we'll encourage in the remaining part of the matches.
10:26Last question.
10:27Last question.
10:28You summarize the point.
10:30The situation you all find this in.
10:33In that regard, how do you utilize the weak ground to ensure there is more for the sleep-up?
10:39Because there is no big ground.
10:41Get away from the game.
10:43So I think that's something which we definitely talked about.
10:47Regroup, rejuvenate is something, you know, which will happen as we reach Dharamshala.
10:54That's our next venue.
10:56So a few of the guys are actually going ahead to Dharamshala because the weather is going to be nice and cool.
11:01So it's just about having that downtime.
11:04You know, we've put in enough work.
11:06All the teams pretty much have put in enough work.
11:08You know, it's just about finding that spark and those individuals which are going to make the difference for the franchisee.
11:16And who is going to put the hand up is something which we are eagerly seeing now in the last four league games,
11:22which will be there, which are going to be high pressure games.
11:25That's the way the nature of the tournament is.
11:28The scheduling, you can actually take advantage of when you're looking at just having to play four games in the last 22-23 days.
11:36So the discussions and the conversations are around that.
11:40Thanks, sir.
11:42Last one.
11:44Last one.
11:45Last one.
11:46Last one.
11:47He has given 1 or 2 wicket to play,
11:49the wedding link to the wedding link,
11:51the wedding link to the wedding link and the middle order.
11:54In the middle order, you can do less work than the wedding link.
11:57So in middle order, you can do less work than you are going to play.
12:00So you can tell that.
12:01That is a fact.
12:03So you don't go far.
12:05You can't go far.
12:07Top order contribution is a part of the sangler.
12:10We need to strengthen on that, you know,
12:12that fearless approach we've been talking about, that is something which needs to continue.
12:17And like you said, middle order needs to fire.
12:20So everything needs to come together. You've got to play good cricket for you to have that impact.
12:24And that's the way these next four games are going to be for us.
12:28Last match, when the power return on Abdul Samad,
12:31you've got a lot of fun.
12:33So today, you've got to play good cricket for you to have that impact.
12:36And that's the way these next four games are going to be for us.
12:40So that's something which you have to see the opposition, see the conditions.
12:45So that's something which we've been doing.
12:48It's all about creating that momentum for us in the back end of the tournament.