"It's A Waste": AUS Great Warns India Selectors Over 'Incredible' Mayank

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson feels young tearawar pacer Mayank Yadav shouldn't be rushed into the Indian Test side. Mayank has taken the Indian Premier League (IPL) by storm with his raw pace and the ability to consistently bowl at over 150 kmph. Bought by LSG for Rs 20 lakh, he was benched throughout the tournament that year, and missed the subsequent edition due to an injury. However, the 21-year-old made an instant impact on his IPL debut, claiming three wickets and bowled the fastest delivery of the season, clocked 155.6 kmph.

In the very next game against RCB, he once again picked three wickets and bettered his fastest ball record with a 156.7 kmph rocket.

Watson feels LSG are lucky to have a player of Mayank's calibre in their ranks.

"Obviously, the talk of the town is Mayank Yadav, to be able to see someone of his world-class speed and then also world-class skill on display... Lucknow Super Giants are unbelievably lucky to be able to have him. To be able to perform on the big stage against the best batters in the world and dominate them and blow them away is something very, very special," Watson said on Jio Cinema.

While several experts have vouched for Mayank's selection in India's Test team, Watson feels that the youngster shouldn't be rushed into the scheme of things just yet.

"Of course, in a perfect world, you'd love to see him playing Test cricket, but just knowing how challenging it is on your body as a fast bowler, to be able to get your body accustomed and resilient enough to be able to handle bowling at high speed, 15-20 overs a day in a Test match on a flat wicket, right now, I don't see it necessary to be able to push his body to that limit.

"There's not too many fast bowlers in the world who come through and are able to bowl at the speed and the control that Mayank does have, so they need to harness that young man's incredible talent and skill that he's got. So, by pushing him to play Test cricket right now, I think that's not wise at all," he added.

Watson feels the selectors should first pick him in the white-ball team to improve his stamina, and then gradually move him into the Test side.

"I personally think it's a waste if Indian cricket, really trying to push him into four-day cricket and Test cricket, knowing the incredible value that he can provide in T20 and one-day cricket for India. I've seen it in the past, whether it's in India or other parts of the world, when everyone gets very excited about a young speedster that comes in, the thought is always, 'oh, let's push him to play Test cricket because that's the ultimate', and it certainly is, but that does take time.

"While his body is going to mature and get more resilient, which does take a number of years, then I think just by playing T20 and one-day cricket will gradually build up his resilience. So I'd love to just see him play the shorter formats while he's just getting used to his body and his body's building that strength that he does need," he concluded.