IPL 2025: Mayank Yadav all set to be among LSG's top 3 retentions

Mayank Yadav made his much-awaited debut for Team India on Sunday (October 6) during the first India vs Bangladesh T20I in Gwalior.

The right-arm pacer became an overnight sensation due to his exploits in this year's Indian Premier League. Even though he played only four games before being sidelined with an abdominal injury, he managed to make a huge impact with his pace.

Mayank Yadav impressed one and all with his ability to bowl at more than 150kph consistently. He won the Player of the Match awards in his first two games as well. The Lucknow Super Giants pacer also bowled a couple of deliveries over the 155kph mark during the competition.

Such was his impact in only a handful of games that there were calls from several quarters to include him in the India squad for the T20 World Cup. However, he was sidelined for months due to an injury before finally returning to action during the first T20I against Bangladesh.

Even though Mayank Yadav had not played any competitive game since this year's IPL, the selectors picked him in the squad. Not only that, the team management also backed the pacer and gave him the opportunity to make his debut for Team India.

He made an instant impact with the bat. In a format where new bowlers usually struggle, Mayank Yadav started by bowling a maiden over. He was the only bowler to bowl a maiden over in that game. The right-arm pacer eventually finished the game with impressive figures of 1 for 21 off his 4 overs.

Mayank Yadav set to earn huge IPL contract:

The appearance against Bangladesh has not only marked Mayank Yadav's arrival in international cricket but has also increased his chances of earning a whopping IPL contract. Lucknow Super Giants will now need to spend at least INR 11 crores (USD 1.31 million) to retain the fast bowler for the next season.

As per rules, any 'uncapped player', who makes his debut in international cricket in any format before the auctions will be recognized as a 'capped player'. A franchise will have to spend at least INR 11 crores to retain a capped player.

The retention prices for capped players are INR 18 crore (No.1), INR 14 crore (No.2), and INR 11 crore (no.3). For retention numbers 4 and 5, the value would again shoot up to Rs INR crore and INR 14 crore, respectively.

Given Mayank's talent, potential, and displays so far, Lucknow Super Giants are more than likely to retain his services. If that happens, the Lucknow-based outfit will have to hand the pacer a million-dollar contract. In case, Lucknow decide to release Mayank, he is more than likely to earn a lucrative contract in the auction.

"There is no way that LSG will put a rare bowler like Mayank back in auction pool. They have invested in him for past two seasons and he will certainly be one among the top three retentions," an IPL insider privy to the developments told PTI.