Gambhir tells Mayank Yadav to back his pace after Ranchi burst
Gautam Gambhir urged fast bowler Mayank Yadav to rely on his pace after India’s second T20I against the West Indies in Ranchi on October 9, 2026, following an impactful spell in which Mayank repeatedly crossed 140 kmph and removed key top-order batters. Gambhir made his expectations clear after the match, saying the youngster should bowl to his strengths rather than overcomplicate his approach.
T20 cricket often forces bowlers to use slower balls, cutters and changes of pace, but Gambhir argued there are times when a quick bowler must trust what comes naturally. Mayank had struggled to find rhythm in Lucknow and was among India’s most expensive bowlers in that earlier outing despite being familiar with the conditions from his time with the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. In Ranchi, the pace spearhead returned with clearer intent, prioritising speed over excessive variation. Gambhir’s comments followed that shift back to raw pace rather than a wholesale dismissal of other skills.
Mayank’s Ranchi spell centred on raw velocity and early wickets: he repeatedly bowled above 140 kmph, struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, and then returned in the final over of the powerplay to dismiss Rovman Powell. Those dismissals left West Indies three down inside the first six overs, giving India control of the chase in the powerplay phase. The sequence demonstrated the immediate impact Gambhir was referring to when he spoke about trusting natural pace.
“He is a fast bowler, he needs to bowl like one, he is not a slower bowler. If you can bowl 150 kph, bowl at 150 kph, if you can bowl at 120 kph, bowl at that pace. When you are a fast bowler, it is your responsibility to bowl fast. That's what he did and that's why he was successful,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India amplified the moment on social media with a clip of Mayank’s delivery: "What. A. Delivery \|/ Express pace from Mayank Yadav Updates https://t.co/mZlyaWZsoe #TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @mflone_ https://t.co/Lyd3SOPwuN— BCCI (@BCCI) October 9, 2026"
Gambhir did not dismiss the value of variations outright, instead stressing the importance of a clear bowling identity and using change-ups to complement a primary skill. The coach framed the Ranchi performance as an example of how variation should support, not replace, a bowler’s main weapon.
Mayank’s decision to attack with pace rather than attempt to reinvent himself after Lucknow produced the intended result, contributing three early wickets and handing India early control of the chase in the second T20I.
