Speedster Mayank Yadav marked his return in style by striking with the very first ball of the opening T20I between India and Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, July 23. After winning the toss, India captain Shreyas Iyer elected to field first.
Zimbabwe openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran began the innings, with Mayank entrusted with the new ball. The right-arm pacer immediately made an impact, delivering a 149 kph back-of-a-length ball that jagged away from around the off stump.
Bennett, rooted to the crease, pushed at the delivery and managed only a faint outside edge. The ball flew through to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, who went up in a loud appeal. Although the on-field umpire turned it down, Kishan remained convinced there was an edge and urged skipper Shreyas Iyer to take the review.
The UltraEdge replay confirmed a clear spike, prompting the third umpire to overturn the on-field decision. As a result, Bennett was adjudged out and had to depart for a golden duck. Watch the video here:
Aate hi kaam shuru kar diye 🔥💪
Watch it LIVE only on FanCode! 🇮🇳 👇https://t.co/q6VBxaRJz3#ZIMvIND #RokoNahiThoko #MayankYadav pic.twitter.com/Pg9RugnnTR
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 23, 2026
Mayank Yadav produced an impressive first over, conceding only six runs while striking with the opening delivery to give India an early breakthrough.
Mayank Yadav Makes Comeback After Long Injury Break
Mayank Yadav marked his return to international cricket after overcoming a lower back stress fracture and undergoing surgery. The speedster had last represented India in a T20I against Bangladesh in 2024 before a lower abdominal side strain, sustained after four IPL 2024 matches, forced him out of action.
After a lengthy rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and a subsequent surgery, Mayank briefly returned to competitive cricket. However, persistent back problems resurfaced, limiting him to just two appearances in IPL 2025 before he was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The 22-year-old finally made a successful comeback in IPL 2026, featuring in four matches after being declared fully fit. His return to fitness also earned him a recall to the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe series, marking his comeback to international cricket.
Before the ongoing match, Mayank had featured in three T20Is since making his debut in 2024, picking up four wickets.
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