Finisher Dinesh Karthik vs Mayank Yadav: RCB star in banter with Nasser Hussain

RCB wicket-keeping batter Dinesh Karthik got involved in some banter with former England captain Nasser Hussain, while discussing his encounter against LSG express pacer Mayank Yadav.

Karthik heaped praise on the young fast-bowler while revealing what makes him really special. Mayank bowled the fastest delivery of IPL 2024 against RCB last week, clocking in at 156.7 km/h. The 21-year-old went on to claim six wickets in three matches before picking up a slight injury against GT on Sunday, April 7.

Speaking to Hussain and former England captain Michael Atherton on Sky Sports, Karthik said the length at which Mayank bowls is what makes him really special, while calling him the fastest bowler he’s faced this year. Mayank set the record for the quickest delivery of the season on his debut match against Punjab and broke his own record in his next match against RCB. Apart from regularly bowling above 150 km/h, Mayank was also spot on with his line and length, picking up six wickets while giving away just 41 runs in the first two matches. He leaked 13 runs against GT before walking off the field with a slight niggle.

“Very quick. Luckily or unluckily, I got out to him on the second ball. Thanks to technology I skipped that bullet, just went over the stumps. The umpire gave it out. He’s quick, he’s sharp. But the good thing about him, generally people who come and bowl at that kind of pace over a period of time are very inconsistent with their length,” said Karthik.

“He’s really good with his length, which is what makes him really special. So far, he’s the quickest bowler I have faced this year. It was a bit like, wow, that’s sharp,” Karthik added.

Hussain also teased Karthik for leaving the first ball he faced from Mayank, while Karthik joked that he was thinking of Hussain when Mayank was running in to bowl. Karthik left the first ball that he faced from Mayank, before being dismissed by Naveen-ul-Haq in the next over.

“When the bowler was running I was thinking about you for a second there, so I went for the back-foot leave,” Karthk told Hussain.

Mayank is expected to be back in action when LSG take on DC in their next match, set to be held at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Friday, April 12.