Mayank Yadav reveals unusual footwear experiment after five-wicket haul on Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 return

India international and Delhi quick Mayank Yadav in action at the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. | Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

There is a new pair of shoes in Mayank Yadav’s cricket kit. They are not conventional cricket spikes but running joggers modified with spikes. The tearaway quick believes they are helping him find a little more spring in his approach to the crease.

“They are very light, and the bounce is better in the run-up. So, that is helping me a lot,” said the 24-year-old after making a stunning return to domestic cricket for Delhi, claiming five for 14 in a three-over spell against Jammu & Kashmir in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) at the Holkar Stadium on Saturday.

The experiment reflects a bowler constantly looking for ways to add to his game. During his rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), following back surgery, Mayank also worked on getting the ball to swing at high pace.

“I knew that in international cricket you need to swing the ball a little because T20 cricket, especially, is very batting-friendly. So, you have to add some extra skills,” he said.

He also worked on his death bowling with Ishant Sharma in the lead-up to the tournament.

“I worked on yorkers and slower balls. Ishant bhaiya helped me a lot. That (death bowling) was one area I really wanted to work more on,” he said.

Having played at the venue during the T20I against the West Indies in October, Mayank knew the ball would “skid off the black-soil surface”.

“I have that pace, so I just tried to keep attacking the wickets and hit the hard length,” he said.

He made an immediate impact, sending Shubham Khajuria’s off-stump cartwheeling before cleaning up Brijesh Sharma with a searing yorker.

Mayank also stressed the importance of recovery for fast bowlers, given the physical demands of operating at high pace.

“You have to respect your body. The intensity for high-pace bowlers is something you cannot compare with that of other bowlers. There are very few bowlers who operate at that pace, and it is a difficult challenge for those working with them to understand their requirements. So, you have to work more and focus more on your recovery and off-field routines,” he said.