India’s Mayank Yadav celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies’ Kamil Pooran. (PTI Photo)
The challenge, though, is to keep him match-ready and ensure his body does not break down.
Mayank returned during the 2026 IPL but largely endured a quiet campaign. He made his India comeback during the Zimbabwe series in July this year and marked his return with a Player of the Match performance, claiming 2/18 in his first outing. I was just 22-23.
Reflecting on his comeback in Harare in July, Mayank had said: “It was very difficult, especially the gap of two years. But the Indian team management knew they had unearthed a rare talent that needed careful handling, and that is precisely what they did, getting him back in shape at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru under the watchful eye of VVS Laxman . What kept the fire burning was the desire to wear the India jersey again. That was a challenge. I often wondered why I had to suffer so much at such a young age. At the same time, the motivation to play for the country was always there. So I wanted to make a comeback and perform as I did before. ” After the match, coach Gautam Gambhir did not mince his words when asked about Yadav’s performance. His message was simple: “bowl fast. Mayank has three more matches left in this series to get his body accustomed to the rigours of international cricket and stake a claim for a permanent spot in the playing XI when India leave for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand.