Young left-arm all-rounder Mangesh Yadav is still coming to terms with his big moment after being picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 5.2 crore in the IPL Mini Auction held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. The 23-year-old from Madhya Pradesh admitted that he never imagined such an outcome at this stage of his career and described the opportunity as completely life-changing.
Mangesh opened up about how overwhelming the experience has been since the auction. “I’ve received more calls than I ever have previously. But these are things I’ll have to deal with going forward,” Mangesh Yadav said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. He also revealed that he was taken aback when as many as four franchises showed interest in him before RCB eventually sealed the deal.
Known for his ability to bowl close to the 140 kmph mark, Mangesh has worked steadily on improving his skills over the years. His pace and left-arm angle have caught the attention of scouts, and within the RCB setup, he is expected to step into the role vacated by Yash Dayal. The franchise believes that the young all-rounder has the potential to make an immediate impact at the IPL level.
Reflecting on his emotional journey, Mangesh spoke about the support system that has guided him so far. “I didn’t know how all of it feels, but I’m blessed to have a lot of people from my own state, like Rajat [Patidar] bhaiyya, Venky [Iyer] bhaiyyaand Anand Rajan [former Madhya Pradesh seamer] sir for guidance. Not having to ask my father for money felt like an achievement. Today, I still don’t know how to process the feeling of getting such a massive bid. I want to make my parents feel comfortable. For that, I have to work hard and can’t get carried away,” Mangesh said.
Despite the excitement surrounding his IPL breakthrough, the young pacer remains firmly focused on his immediate responsibilities. Mangesh underlined that performing for Madhya Pradesh continues to be his top priority as he features in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. “I’ve imagined what it’llbe like wearing the RCB jersey and standing on top of my run-up. But I’ve also imagined picking up wickets and winning games for MP. That is my primary goal,” he added.
For latest sports updates: Follow RevSportz
