LSG head coach Justin Langer backs 21-year-old Delhi pacer with 12 T20 wickets who can fill in Mark Wood’s shoes

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffered a massive blow ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as England’s left-arm pacer David Willey is set to miss the first few games of the season due to personal reasons. After the auction, Mark Wood pulled out of IPL 2024 and was replaced by West Indies' fast-bowling sensation Shamar Joseph. However, LSG head coach Justin Langer feels 21-year-old Delhi pacer Mayank Yadav may replace Wood. 
 

"With Mark Wood pulling out of the tournament and also David Willey won't be coming now either, that means we lack some experience," Langer told the media when asked about LSG’s pace battery. "But what I've also seen in the last couple of days is that we have enormous talent. Some of our guys have had some injuries but they all look very fit at the moment.”
 

‘Wood is a world-class bowler’

While Langer feels that Wood is a world-class bowler he feels Joseph alongside Mayank will have to fill in his shoes.
 

"Mark Wood is a world-class bowler, isn't he? And he pulled out after the auction, which is disappointing but this is the world we live in," Langer said.

 

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"We also have Shamar Joseph, we have Mayank who bowls with very good pace. Hopefully we can replace, not [Wood's] experience, but his pace with Shamar Joseph and Mayank. He'll be missed - of course he'll be missed, he's a world-class bowler - but this is the world we live in and we will adapt and we will be OK."
 

Yadav and Joseph’s T20 numbers

Yadav who made his domestic T20 cricket debut in December 2021 has played 10 games so far. He has 12 T20 wickets at an average of 15.58. His economy rate of 6.44 is impressive. He was picked for his base price of Rs 20 lakh in the previous edition’s mini-auction. He has yet to make his IPL debut. 

 

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On the other hand, Joseph is yet to take his maiden T20 wickets. He was expected to get T20 exposure before the IPL but had to pull out of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to injury. The 24-year-old shot to fame when he picked up seven wickets in West Indies' famous Gabba win despite an injured toe. He is capable of touching the 150 kmph mark consistently.
 

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