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When Mayank Yadav made his IPL debut in 2024, he didn't just announce his arrival; he sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The right-arm pacer unleashed raw pace that left batters scrambling, consistently clocking 150kph and delivering back-to-back player-of-the-match performances. Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green were among his early victims, and suddenly, everyone was talking about India's newest speedster.

But just as quickly as he burst onto the scene, injuries pulled the rug from under him. In the two years since that debut, Mayank has managed to play only 10 IPL games across three seasons. He did earn an India cap in between, but his appearances remained sporadic. Multiple injuries kept the 24-year-old on the sidelines for long stretches, turning what should have been a meteoric rise into a frustrating battle for fitness and form.

On Thursday, however, Mayank took a significant step towards redemption. In the T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare, he delivered a player-of-the-match performance, returning figures of 2/18 from his four overs. More importantly, he showed no signs of his pace dropping, maintaining his intensity throughout the spell and easing fears that injuries had taken a toll on his raw speed.

Reflecting on the difficult years, Mayank admitted the mental toll was immense. "It was very difficult. The two-year gap was very challenging for me as a person. I was only 22-23 years old at that time, so it always affected me having to go through so much at such a young age," he said. "But at the same time, the motivation to play for the country is every player's childhood dream. That was what kept me going: the desire to come back and perform for India."

He also reserved special praise for captain Shreyas Iyer, under whom he was playing for the first time. "During the match, I felt he showed a lot of confidence in the bowlers. Whatever I wanted to bowl, he backed it. Whenever he gave advice, I felt very confident in following it. I felt very free playing under his captaincy," Mayank added.

For a young man who has endured more than his fair share of setbacks, this performance wasn't just about wickets; it was a statement. Mayank Yadav is back, and he's hungry to stay.