Mayank Yadav's first-ball wicket on comeback caps 21-month injury fight
Synopsis
After 21 months away from international cricket and a wicketless IPL, Mayank Yadav dismissed Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett with the very first ball of his comeback T20I — a moment he says captured everything his two-year fight through injury was about. The 2-18 spell and a Player of the Match award later, the relief was palpable.
Key Takeaways
Mayank Yadav returned to international cricket after a 21-month injury absence , playing the first T20I against Zimbabwe on 24 July 2025 in Harare .
He dismissed opener Brian Bennett with his very first delivery and finished with figures of 2-18 , winning the Player of the Match award.
India won by seven wickets , restricting Zimbabwe to 125/7 before Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's record-breaking 18-ball fifty sealed the chase.
Mayank credited his mother, sister, and trainer Rajni — first met at the Centre of Excellence in 2024 — for supporting his rehabilitation.
A wicketless IPL season had dented his confidence, but advice from senior players to 'back your strength' guided his mindset into the comeback match.
India fast bowler Mayank Yadav marked his return to international cricket with a first-ball wicket on 24 July 2025, dismissing Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett off his very first delivery in the opening T20I at the Harare Sports Club. The 24-year-old, returning after a 21-month injury lay-off, said the moment 'summarised everything from two years' — capturing the emotional weight of one of the longest comebacks in recent Indian cricket.
A Match-Winning Return
Mayank finished with figures of 2-18 to claim the Player of the Match award as India defeated Zimbabwe by seven wickets, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. His spell, combined with Prince Yadav's 2-19, restricted the hosts to 125/7. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then sealed the chase with a record-breaking 18-ball fifty, powering India to a comfortable win.
What the First Ball Meant
'So these two years, it was a long, long time, eagerly waiting to play again in Blues. I think today when I took a wicket in the very first ball, it summarised everything from two years, so it feels great now. It was very tough, but at the same time, what I feel, it was very important for me also,' Mayank said in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
He described his primary emotion after the match not as joy, but as relief. 'More, it's relief because, like after a very long time, the expectation is a lot with me. Keeping pressure on myself, so now I have got these two wickets, I have got the performance. So that is a big relief for me,' he added.
IPL Struggles and the Road Back
Mayank also revealed that a difficult IPL season — in which he went wicketless — had shaken his confidence ahead of the comeback. 'That was the first time in like many, many years that I didn't get any wickets,' he admitted. Senior players advised him to trust his natural strengths, counsel he said stayed with him through the build-up to the first delivery in Harare.
'I had a chat with a lot of players. So they have only told me one thing: just keep backing your strength, keep believing in yourself. So that is the only thing I was just thinking about before that first ball,' he said.
The Support System Behind the Comeback
Mayank credited three people with carrying him through his rehabilitation: his mother, his sister, and trainer Rajni, whom he first encountered at the Centre of Excellence (COE) in 2024. 'I think he is the person who understands me and understands my body very well. Somewhere I am stuck, so I just go to him and just ask, like, how should I go about it or what are the things I can do better,' Mayank said.
He added that every performance now carries a sense of purpose beyond personal ambition — a tribute to those who stood by him. As India head into the remainder of the series, all eyes will be on whether Mayank can sustain his rhythm and cement his place in the side for the longer road ahead.
Point of View
Followed by a wicketless IPL, should prompt harder questions about workload protocols for pace bowlers who arrive in the national setup with high-velocity action and limited first-class mileage. The first-ball wicket is the headline; the structural question is whether the support systems around him — the COE, the physio chain, the franchise-to-national handover — are robust enough to keep him on the park for a full international cycle, not just one triumphant evening in Harare.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Mayank Yadav out of cricket for 21 months?
Mayank Yadav was sidelined for 21 months due to injury, making his return in the first T20I against Zimbabwe on 24 July 2025. He has not detailed the specific injury publicly beyond describing the lay-off as 'very tough' and crediting his trainer Rajni and family for his rehabilitation.
What were Mayank Yadav's figures on his comeback?
Mayank Yadav took 2 wickets for 18 runs in the first T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare, claiming the Player of the Match award. He dismissed opener Brian Bennett with the very first ball he bowled on his return.
What was the result of the India vs Zimbabwe first T20I?
India won the first T20I by seven wickets at the Harare Sports Club on 24 July 2025. Zimbabwe were restricted to 125/7 before Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 18-ball fifty powered India to victory, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Who helped Mayank Yadav during his injury recovery?
Mayank Yadav credited his mother, his sister, and trainer Rajni — whom he first met at the Centre of Excellence in 2024 — for guiding him through his rehabilitation. He said Rajni understands his body well and helps him work through difficult phases of training.
How did Mayank Yadav's IPL season affect his confidence?
Mayank Yadav went wicketless in his IPL season before the Zimbabwe tour, which he described as a first in 'many, many years.' He said senior players advised him to trust his strengths and back himself, advice he carried into his comeback match.
