Mayank Yadav's Road to Recovery After Successful Back Surgery

Mayank Yadav's Successful Surgery Marks a Step Towards Comeback

Indian fast bowler Mayank Yadav is on the path to resuming his cricket career following a successful back surgery performed in Christchurch, New Zealand. The operation was carried out by the esteemed orthopaedic spine surgeon Dr. Rowan Schouten, who has previously treated top cricketers including Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Jason Behrendorff, and Cameron Green.

The surgical procedure focused on the L5 vertebra on both sides of Yadav's lower back. This intervention was necessary due to ongoing injury problems that had sidelined him from important tournaments. Yadav has recently returned to India and is expected to begin his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) soon. However, a specific timeline for his return remains uncertain as the medical team plans to take a cautious approach.

“Yes, Mayank came back to India last week after undergoing surgery in New Zealand. The surgery led by Dr Schouten was done on L5 vertebra – both left and right sides. Once the basic healing phase is over, Mayank is expected to start his extensive rehab in the coming weeks at the CoE. As of now, no timelines are set on his recovery and rehab as there will be no rush in his case.”

Injury Challenges Impact Mayank's Career Progression

Mayank Yadav has faced numerous injury challenges early in his career. He gained significant attention during IPL 2024, where he bowled at an impressive speed of 150 km/h and earned the Player of the Match title in his first two games with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Unfortunately, a side strain limited his participation to just four matches that season.

After completing his rehabilitation, he made his international debut for India against Bangladesh in October 2024. Sadly, he sustained a stress-related back injury that ruled him out for the entire 2024/25 domestic season. His return to IPL 2025 was further delayed due to a toe infection, and even when he managed to play two matches, his bowling speed had noticeably decreased.

Following a brief comeback, Yadav experienced a recurrence of back pain, leading to his exclusion from the team once again. New Zealand's fast bowler Will O'Rourke was brought in as his replacement by LSG. The encouraging news is that Yadav is currently free from pain, and his medical team is hopeful for his gradual return to full fitness.