Mayank Yadav: ‘This isn’t the first time I’ve clicked 155 kph’

Only 21, Mayank Yadav burst into IPL 2024, clocking 150 kph in his first over. An over later, he hit the 155-barrier, sending one whooshing past Shikhar Dhawan’s swipe. The speed gun confirmed 155.8 kph.

Significantly quicker than Nandre Burger’s 153 kph, this is now the fastest ball of IPL 2024. Four balls after setting the new record, Mayank bowled one at 153.4 kph, pushing Burger to third place.

Chasing 200, Punjab were 102-0 in 11.3 overs before Mayank took out Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, and Jitesh Sharma – all with short-pitched deliveries. Mohsin Khan struck twice in two balls, and Punjab ran out of steam to finish on 178-5. Mayank finished with 3-27 from his four overs, and was deservingly named the Player of the Match.

“I’ve never bowled [at] 156 [kph] before this,” confirmed Mayank at the post-match press conference while referring to his 155.8 kph ball. “I clicked 155, but this is, I think [my] fastest ball.”

Mayank was referring to a 2023/24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match for Delhi against Punjab. He clocked 155.1 kph with the second ball of his third over (14th of the innings), though Abhishek Sharma had got a single off it.

155 kmph…unbelievable#SMAT https://t.co/J63Zk0UQp6 pic.twitter.com/B8AWxnxu3h

— Varun Giri (@Varungiri0) November 4, 2023

Mayank finished that match with 2-28 from four overs as Punjab, the eventual champions, cruised to an easy win. From 11 T20 matches, he has now taken 15 wickets at 14.26 while conceding 6.48 an over. He also has reasonable numbers in his new first-class and List A careers.

An alumnus of the Sonnet Cricket Club, the famed cradle of Delhi cricket that has produced several Indian cricketers (including captains like Anjum Chopra, Shikhar Dhawan, and Rishabh Pant), Mayank turned into an overnight sensation after his fast, hostile spell.