Meet Mayank Gusain, who overcame long injury layoff to make Delhi Ranji team

Mayank Gusain, a 22-year-old batting all-rounder, who has been picked for the Delhi Ranji Trophy team for the match against Jharkhand that begins on Thursday, may have forgotten playing cricket during a four-year hiatus forced by Covid and stress fracture.  

Gusain was picked among probables for the under-19 World Cup 2020 that also included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi, and Dhruv Jurel. That squad was led by Priyam Garg.

“But I had a stress fracture in the lower back and was out of the camp, and then for 3-4 years, I couldn’t even play the state,” recalls Gusain after Delhi scripted a stunning win over Gujarat, chasing 290 on the final day in a Col CK Nayudu match.  

Gusain had progressed through the ranks in Delhi state cricket. He represented the team in under-14, and in under-16 for a long time.

Mayank Gusain (left) celebrates after hitting the winning runs against Gujarat

“I performed in under-14, then I played under-16. That year, I got through to Zonal Cricket Academy (ZCA). I performed there and got through National cricket Academy (NCA) too that year itself,” said Gusain.   

“I was the under-16 captain in my second year in that age-group and scored 450 runs. Played four matches that year. Got through ZCA again, was captain of North Zone and led them to title. Then I made it to NCA. Was in under-19 World Cup probables.”

That was where his career was halted by injury and by Covid. An entire batch of under-19 cricketers lost a year due to Covid.  

“I had played under-19, but then there was Covid, lost a year there and then further years to injury. I had surgery on my shoulder and had to undergo rehab for a year. I had pain on and off, got surgery,” says Gusain, who began playing serious cricket when he was in sixth standard and was inspired from a very young age after seeing his father play at local level.

Gusain got enrolled at the Vidya Jain Cricket Academy and was initially coached by Naresh Jain. He has been playing Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) league cricket for Bright Club for the last two years.

He underwent surgery twice, first in 2021, and then in 2023.

“I had confidence in my ability. Never doubted that I could make a comeback. I gave trial, performed following recovery after one to 1.5 years, but couldn’t get selected.”

But he made his return last season.

“I played under-23 last season, and in five matches, scored 350 runs, and took 12 wickets. This year too I have got into the team and have scored runs.”

Gusain also played some good knocks in the Delhi Premier League.

“I try to contribute as much as I can in bowling, batting and fielding.”

He has done the rescue act more than once this season after the Delhi top-order collapsed.

The right-hander has aggregated 436 runs across four matches at an average of 87.2 in the ongoing Col CK Nayudu Trophy 2024-25 season.

He scored 177 vs Goa at Porvorim, 75 and 31 vs Uttar Pradesh at Meerut, 89 vs Jammu and Kashmir at Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia, and finally 49 and 15 not out vs Gujarat again at the Jamia Millia Islamia.

Tags : Cricket, Delhi, Mayank Gusain, DDCA, Ranji Trophy, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Col CK Nayudu