Mayank Yadav joins Hardik Pandya in elite list with first-ball strike in IND vs ZIM 1st T20I

India's tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav made a sensational comeback after a long injury layoff by dismissing Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett off the very first ball of the T20I series opener in Harare. Striking on the opening delivery of a T20I innings for the second time in his young career, having previously removed Bangladesh's Parvez Hossain Emon in October 2024, Mayank joined Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya as only the third Indian bowler to claim a wicket on the match's opening ball.

Mayank Yadav bags rare milestone in Zimbabwe

The dream start unfolded after Indian captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl first. Charging in at a blistering 149 kmph, the right-arm fast bowler hurled a back-of-a-length delivery just outside off stump that moved away late. Stuck on his crease, Bennett could only feather a slight nick through to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, leaving the opener facing an immediate exit.

Although the on-field umpire initially turned down the appeal, a confident Kishan immediately convinced Iyer to challenge the decision. Replays proved the keeper right, as UltraEdge detected a clear spike as the ball brushed the bat. The original call was promptly overturned, sending Bennett back for a golden duck on the very first ball of the match.

Mayank Yadav’s rise in cricket has been anything but a smooth ride. After captivating fans with his raw pace for the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and quickly earning his T20I debut in 2024, the young fast bowler saw his momentum repeatedly derailed by frustrating injury setbacks.

Now 24, the right-arm quick has paired his trademark blistering speed with ever-improving control. His inclusion in the squad for the Zimbabwe tour marks a crucial step in his comeback story, offering him a fresh opportunity to re-establish himself on the international stage.

India fold Zimbabwe for 125/7

Mayank capitalised on that chance in the opening T20I, delivering a masterful four-over spell to finish with figures of 2 for 18. His disciplined, high-impact performance played a pivotal role in restricting Zimbabwe to a modest total of 125 for 7 in their 20 overs.

India's playing XI:

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma, and Mayank Yadav

Zimbabwe's Playing XI:

Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Ben Curran, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, and Blessing Muzarabani