Indian fast bowler Mayank Yadav is set to begin his extensive rehabilitation process soon after undergoing a successful surgery to address his back issues in Christchurch. The procedure was performed by Dr. Rowan Schouten, a renowned orthopaedic spine surgeon based in Christchurch, who has previously operated on notable cricketers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Jason Behrendorff, James Pattinson, and Cameron Green. Yadav, who had been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to the recurrence of his back injury, returned to India last week. The surgery focused on the L5 vertebra on both the left and right sides. Sources familiar with the situation informed IANS that Yadav would begin his rehabilitation at the CoE in the coming weeks, but no specific timelines have been set for his recovery, as caution will be exercised in his case. What Is Mayank Yadav’s Injury Status? Throughout his career, Yadav, based in New Delhi, has faced various injuries. After impressing by clocking speeds of 150 kmph and earning Player of the Match awards in his first two IPL 2024 matches for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a side injury limited his participation to just four games. Subsequently, he underwent rehab at the CoE (formerly called National Cricket Academy) before making his India debut in the T20I series against Bangladesh in October 2024. However, a stress issue in his back ruled him out of the 2024/25 domestic season. Yadav’s potential return to IPL 2025 for LSG, who retained him ahead of the previous year’s mega auction, was further delayed due to a toe infection. After joining the LSG camp on April 16, Yadav played only two matches against Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), where his pace was significantly reduced compared to his previous performances in 2024. He relied heavily on slower balls and their variations. Following the resumption of IPL 2025 after a ten-day pause due to cross-border tension between India and Pakistan, Yadav was again ruled out due to the resurgence of his back injury. Subsequently, LSG signed New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke as his replacement. Sources expressed optimism about Yadav’s recovery, noting that he no longer experiences back pain, which had previously troubled him. There is hope that, if the recovery and rehabilitation go well, Yadav will gradually return to the field as per the plan outlined by the CoE medical team. (With inputs from IANS)