mayank yadav is set to return to the Indian Premier League when Lucknow Super Giants face Rajasthan Royals at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on April 22, 2026, with the match time updated at 19: 36 IST and relevant to Eastern Time coverage on April 22, 2026. The 23-year-old India and Delhi speedster last played for LSG in IPL 2025, and his comeback has instantly become one of the sharpest talking points around the fixture. His return matters because LSG have been managing his workload after injury setbacks, and the side has been searching for more consistency.
Mayank Yadav back in the playing picture
The immediate news is simple: mayank yadav will make his return for Lucknow Super Giants against Rajasthan Royals. He played only twice for LSG in IPL 2025, featuring against Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings before missing the rest of the tournament. In those two matches, he took two wickets, finished with an average of 50, and went at 12. 50 runs per over.
His last professional outing before this return came for India A in two T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches against the USA and Namibia. LSG director of cricket Tom Moody had already said Mayank was fit to play before the team’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but he did not appear in that game or the one that followed against Punjab Kings.
Why Mayank Yadav changes the discussion
Mayank Yadav has long been treated as a difference-maker, and that label was repeated again before this match. LSG batter Aiden Markram called him an X-factor and said a fit Mayank Yadav creates major selection headaches for any side. Markram made that point on the eve of the game in Lucknow, framing Mayank Yadav as a bowler who can force tactical changes simply by being available.
Tom Moody had also confirmed earlier in the season that Mayank Yadav was fit, but the franchise wanted him to build up his workload. LSG have mainly used the pace pair of Mohammad Shami and Prince Yadav, which makes Mayank Yadav’s return a notable shift in their fast-bowling options.
What the return means for LSG
The timing is important because LSG have struggled at home, losing all their matches in Lucknow so far. They also sit ninth in the table after winning only two of their first six matches, with a net run rate of -1. 173.
That context gives mayank yadav added weight: his comeback is not just about one player’s return, but about whether LSG can reset their campaign at the Ekana Stadium. With back-to-back home games ahead, the franchise will be hoping the fast bowler can add urgency and edge exactly when it needs them most.
For now, the key question is no longer whether mayank yadav is fit enough to be considered. It is whether LSG can use mayank yadav immediately and effectively as they try to recover momentum in the weeks ahead.
