“Franchises run out of patience”: Irfan Pathan issues strict warning to Mayank Yadav

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that it’s the right time for fast bowler Mayank Yadav to prove himself on the international stage for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which will start in the next two days.

Mayank Yadav was an instrumental find for the LSG camp last year. The right-arm fast bowler has been the talk of the town since his very first match, where he impressed everyone by picking up three wickets for just 27 runs in his four-over spell.

One thing that has impressed everyone is his ability to consistently bowl over 150 km/h, with his fastest delivery reaching 155.8 km/h, earning him the Player of the Match award in his first two games. However, despite his impressive skills, he has been in and out of the team over the last two seasons due to injuries.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Irfan Pathan Hails LSG For Backing Mayank Yadav

Despite playing just six matches in the last two seasons, the Lucknow-based franchise has backed him for consecutive years. After missing the entire 2024 season and playing just two games in 2025, the Rishabh Pant-led side retained him at a whopping price of ₹11 crore in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction.

However, it will be really interesting to see how Mayank Yadav lives up to the faith shown by his team, as he is now considered fit and available for the full season in the upcoming edition. He is currently training under bowling coach Bharat Arun in the LSG camp.

Irfan Pathan: He Has Played Just Six Matches in Two Years

Talking about Mayank Yadav’s career and form, Irfan Pathan pointed out that the youngster needs to prove himself, especially after playing just six matches in the last two editions despite being backed by the franchise.

“Mayank Yadav has played six matches in two years; it is not enough. He is a retained player and has to be available this year. If there is no place for him in the team, then that is a separate thing. The franchise has supported him. Mohsin Khan missed last year entirely, and even in previous seasons, he has not played all the games. But they have been backed no other franchise does this. I have seen KKR and MI do it, but many franchises run out of patience after one or two seasons,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Irfan Pathan Said, "All Eyes will be on Mohammed Shami"

Mohammed Shami has been out of the Indian team for a long period due to injuries and fitness issues since the 2023 World Cup. His growing age and fitness concerns were among the main reasons that led to his exclusion from the BCCI central contract list.

Pathan further added that Mohsin Khan was also ruled out of IPL 2025 and has not been seen playing any tournament since December 2024. He highlighted that LSG have significantly strengthened their Indian pace bowling reserves, even after releasing Akash Deep.

“Their fast bowling is quite strong; they have a lot of options. Mohammed Shami has played a lot of domestic cricket, is in rhythm, and is experienced. Everyone knows that if there are seaming conditions, you can rely on him for a solid two-over spell. Last year, he had to bowl on flat wickets in Hyderabad. I think he will get much more help from the Lucknow pitch,” Pathan added.

Shami, who is likely to spearhead the bowling attack, will have the support of fellow Indian pacers Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, and Naman Tiwari in the IPL 2026 season.

Also Read: Mayank Yadav reveals real story behind his recovery and Sanjiv Goenka’s support