India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has expressed high confidence in young fast bowler Mayank Yadav, labeling him as a potential X-factor for the Indian team ahead of their three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Though Suryakumar stopped short of confirming if the 22-year-old pacer would make his international debut in the opening game on October 6 in Gwalior, his comments have added to the buzz surrounding Mayank.

Mayank Yadav, who rose to prominence during the IPL 2024 while playing for Lucknow Super Giants, caught everyone's attention with his raw pace. His 156.7 km/h delivery against Royal Challengers Bangalore was the fastest in IPL history. However, his IPL season was cut short due to a back injury, a common challenge faced by bowlers clocking such high speeds.

At the pre-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav discussed Mayank’s potential and praised the young talents in the squad. "He has that X-factor obviously; we have seen that in IPL. It’s not just him, but it’s great to see these pieces coming together for the team," Suryakumar said.

Suryakumar also addressed the importance of managing fast bowlers like Mayank carefully, given the heavy workload that comes with playing domestic and franchise cricket. "I haven’t faced him in the nets because we had different orders, but I’ve seen him bowl and the kind of potential he holds. We have seen an X-factor in him with that extra pace," he remarked.

The young fast bowler is now fully fit and ready for selection after recovering from his injury. Suryakumar noted, "It’s important to manage him well because of the amount of cricket being played. He is a nice addition to the Indian team, and we hope he will perform well."

The Indian squad for the T20I series against Bangladesh is packed with talent, including options like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, but Suryakumar's words have intensified speculation that Mayank Yadav might make his much-anticipated debut.

Mayank’s journey from IPL breakout star to potential international debutant adds another layer of excitement to India's squad. With his extraordinary pace and potential, he is certainly one to watch as India prepares for the Bangladesh series.