IPL 2025: Fast bowler Mayank Yadav injured again, ruled out of the remaining matches of the league; Questions are being raised on NCA and BCCI

When IPL 2025 was stopped, the Lucknow Super Giants team was relieved that they had all the players fit. Then LSG was hoping for a comeback, but now these hopes have been dashed. India's fastest bowler, Mayank Yadav, had to be ruled out of the remaining matches of the league due to a back injury. Due to this, questions have started being raised on the BCCI's 'Center of Excellence' (formerly NCA). Fans are asking how he was given a fitness certificate.

The IPL media release said, 'Mayank Yadav has suffered a back injury and is out of the remaining season.' New Zealand's William O'Rourke will replace him in the Lucknow Super Giants for the remainder of the tournament. Mayank, who returned after six months of rehabilitation at the 'Center of Excellence' (COE), conceded 100 runs in eight overs in two matches and took only two wickets. He bowled a total of 48 balls. Mayank joined the Lucknow team on April 16 after getting a fitness certificate from the COE. Then he got to play a match against Mumbai Indians on April 27. Then he came out against Punjab Kings on May 4. After this, the IPL was postponed on May 9. Now, when the second phase starts on May 17, Mayank is again struggling with an injury.

This season, his speed had dropped by at least 15 kmph, and there has been a change in bowling action. For the record, Mayank has played nine T20 matches between March 30, 2024, and May 4, 2025, which is exactly 13 months and four days. Within a year, he has had to deal with a back injury thrice. These nine matches of Mayank include four T20 matches for Lucknow last year. Then he made a splash by bowling 150 kmph consistently. However, the first breakdown happened in April last year, and he was out for six months. Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir then included him in India's T20I squad for the Bangladesh series.

By the end of the series, his back injury resurfaced, and he missed the entire domestic season due to rehabilitation at the NCA and then the newly formed COE. Now he is injured again. This has raised questions on the COE as to how he was declared fit. A 'strength and conditioning trainer' who has worked at the NCA said, 'Now that Nitin Patel is gone, you don't know who to ask about Mayank's rehabilitation. The next question that should be asked is whether he was given a fitness certificate ahead of time, without ensuring that his back injury could resurface within two matches. A lot is missing in the timelines for Mayank Yadav and Umran Malik's injury rehabilitation.'

Mayank is only 22 years old and has many years of cricket ahead of him, but this continuous injury will make the selection committee lose faith in him. He has a fast bowler's contract with BCCI and has been under the board for the last year, but due to repeated injuries, he may need to seek advice from foreign experts. However, the COE has completely objected to this. Earlier, many senior players and coaches have raised questions about the working system of the NCA. From Rohit Sharma to Rahul Dravid, who was the coach of the Indian team then, have raised questions about how a player who is half-fit or not 100 percent fit can be allowed to play for the Indian team.