India's Mayank Yadav problem seems to be getting no closer to a solution and tensions over him continue to increase after the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer was ruled out of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) with a back injury as the franchise confirmed New Zealand pacer Will O'Rourke as his replacement for a sum of Rs. 3 crore.

Mayank was signed by LSG in the 2023 auction for Rs. 20 Lakhs but missed the entire season due to injury. He finally made his debut in the 2024 season and made an instant impression with his raw pace, touching 157 km/hr leaving the cricket world impressed as he became the first player in history to win the Player of the Match (POTM) award in his first two games in the league.

However, Mayank injured himself in the third game and spent a brief period on the sidelines due to a side strain. He came back to play his fourth match of the season but suffered a mid-game injury and was ruled out for the season.

While the injury problems were apparent, his unquestionable talent earned him an India call-up and he made his first appearance in competitive cricket post the injury almost five months later when he made his debut for India against Bangladesh and featured in all three T20Is in the series.

However, that was the last the world saw of Mayank for another seven months as he suffered a stress fracture and spent months at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (BCE)

Despite the frequent injury issues, Mayank was retained by LSG for a whopping Rs. 11 crore ahead of the 2025 IPL Mega auction.

However, he was not fit for the first seven games of the season as the franchise faced with a severe injury crisis on the fast-bowling front as Mohsin Khan was ruled out of the season while Avesh Khan and Akashdeep were not available for the first few games.

After Mayank re-joined the camp, LSG showed restraint in using him and only named him as an impact player in the line-up and they were unable to use him in both games. Ultimately, he made his first appearance of the season against Mumbai Indians (MI) and also played their last game before the league's suspension against the Punjab Kings (PBKS).

Mayank took two wickets against MI while giving away 42 runs. In the clash against PBKS, he gave 60 runs in four overs at Dharamshala without getting a wicket.

Mayank's pace was nowhere near what he is known for. As the 22-year-old faces another period on the sidelines, it has raised major questions on the BCE as well as LSG. Was the pacer rushed back and why was proper care not taken over a player who has a long history of injuries?

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