When Mayank Yadav dismissed Brian Bennett with the very first ball of Zimbabwe’s innings on Thursday, it felt like time had stood still. The 24-year-old was doing precisely what made him one of India’s most promising pace prospects — only, a little later than expected. Bowling at close to 150 kph, hitting hard lengths and unsettling batsmen — traits that had earned Mayank the distinction of being special.
By the time his spell ended, Mayank had figures of 2/18 from four overs, which was enough for him to win the Player of the Match on his return to international cricket after 21 months.
His first delivery had kissed the outside edge of Bennett’s bat at 149 kph. He hurried Dion Myers with extra bounce before inducing a miscued pull, with the speed gun repeatedly flashing 147, 146, 145, 144 and 143 kph. Even at the death, he mixed in slower deliveries of 137 and 116 kph to show that there is now more to his bowling than sheer pace. Most importantly, he completed his full quota without any visible discomfort.
It was as reassuring a comeback as India could have hoped for. Yet, it is only the beginning of a much bigger test.
The three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, squeezed into four days, is not merely an opportunity for Mayank to prove he can still bowl fast. It is India’s first chance to assess whether he can withstand the physical demands of international cricket again.