Every year, the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s richest cricket tournament, unveils rich talents.

Only twice though has there been awed chatter about a young Indian pace bowler because of their exceptional speed.

Umran Malik from Indian-administered Kashmir created a storm three years ago. In IPL 2024, it’s Mayank Yadav who is turning heads almost as quickly as he’s turning up the dial on speed guns.

The 21-year-old lanky bowler from Delhi made his IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants against Punjab Kings in March and set pulses racing with a terrific spell of fast bowling. He bowled a delivery at 155.8 km/h (96 mph) and won the man-of-the-match award on debut.

In the next game Yadav went one better with a 156.7 km/h (96 mph) scorcher – the season’s quickest delivery so far – and a second successive man-of-the-match award against Royal Challengers Bangalore, an IPL first for a debutant. He picked up six wickets for 41 runs across the two matches.

Yadav’s performance prompted Ian Bishop, commentator and former West Indies bowler, to describe him as a “child of the wind”.

Dale Steyn, one of the greatest fast bowlers in history, and who Yadav described as his only idol, said on Twitter: “Mayank Yadav where have you been hiding!” In a tweet after his second game, Steyn simply wrote: “That’s a serious ball! #PACE”.

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