Mahela Jayawardene impressed by debutant Mayank Markande’s accuracy and variations

In the first match of IPL 2018, Mumbai Indians lost the thrilling contest against two-time champions Chennai Super Kings, but the bout was a close collision. Mayank Markande, who was bought by Mumbai Indians on his base price at the IPL Auction in January, showed a remarkable performance and after making his debut, he didn’t show any type of nervousness and hoaxed the veterans with their googly. At the end, he managed to secure three wickets, including CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in his four-over spell and conceded only 23 runs. 

After this tremendous performance, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene was all praise for the youngster and said, “I thought he bowled brilliantly, we backed him when we saw him first at our camp. I knew that he is special. He came for two trial games for us, both him and (Rahul) Chahar. We backed our youngsters. The crowd was packed against CSK, and he bowled well, I am pleased for him.

"I think it is the accuracy. He is quite accurate and probably a bit different to a regular leg-spinner as well. The control he has with his variations, The way he delivers the ball," he said.

Mayank made a great record by taking a wicket on the third ball of the first over of his debut match. He dismissed Ambati Rayudu for 22 to secure his first wicket of the IPL career and followed that up by dismissing MS Dhoni, of all people, with a brilliant googly. He also dismissed Deepak Chahar to bring an end to a brilliant spell of spin bowling.