India finally returned to winning ways with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the opening T20I of the five-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday. The triumph not only gave the visitors a 1-0 lead but also marked Shreyas Iyer‘s first international victory as India’s T20I captain. After enduring a difficult run that included series defeats against Ireland and England, the young Indian side delivered a polished all-round performance to end a seven-match winless streak in the shortest format.
The bowlers laid the foundation for the win before the batters comfortably chased down the target, giving India a much-needed confidence boost at the start of the series. Among the standout performers was express pacer Mayank Yadav, who made an emphatic return to international cricket after a lengthy injury layoff.
Mayank Yadav impresses with splendid bowling on comeback
Making his first appearance for India in nearly two years, Mayank wasted no time announcing his return. The right-arm speedster struck with the very first ball of the match, dismissing Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett with a fiery delivery that immediately put the hosts under pressure. Mayank continued to trouble the Zimbabwe batters with his raw pace and accuracy, removing Dion Myers in the fifth over to finish with outstanding figures of 2/18 from his four-over spell. It was the best bowling performance of his brief T20I career and a timely reminder of the impact he can make when fully fit.
The performance carried extra significance considering the challenges Mayank has faced over the past two years. Persistent back injuries interrupted his progress after IPL 2025, forcing him to undergo surgery following another setback. Although he returned through India A matches ahead of the T20 World Cup and featured in four IPL 2026 games for Lucknow Super Giants, he struggled to make an impact, going wicketless while conceding runs at an economy of 11.37.
His spell in Harare, however, showcased the pace, rhythm and confidence that had made him one of India’s brightest fast-bowling prospects before injuries halted his momentum. The performance also strengthened his case for an extended run in the national side.
Also WATCH: ZIM vs IND – Mayank Yadav’s 149 kmph thunderbolt stuns Brian Bennett in 1st T20I
Mayank rates Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy after memorable win
Following the victory, Mayank spoke highly of Iyer’s leadership and revealed that the captain’s confidence in his bowlers allowed him to execute his plans with complete freedom. The pacer said that although the two did not have many conversations before the match, Iyer’s trust during the game made a significant difference.
“I didn’t speak much to him before the match. But when he was captaining, I felt that he showed a lot of confidence in the bowlers and I felt very good that whatever I wanted to bowl, he backed that,” Mayank said.
He also appreciated the advice he received from the skipper during the innings, saying it boosted his confidence even further. Mayank admitted that this was his first experience playing under Iyer’s captaincy and described it as an enjoyable one.
“When he gave me some advice too, I felt very confident that I can back that and it was a good option. I felt very free playing with him. It’s the first time I’m playing under his captaincy, I’ve only seen him lead on TV or with other teams so it felt very good,” added Mayank.
