One of the fastest bowlers globally, Mayank Yadav made a strong international debut, taking one wicket as India secured a 7-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first T20I of their three-match series on Sunday.
As an express pacer, Mayank impressed not only with his speed but also with his variations. After the match, he shared a significant message from coach Gautam Gambhir that encouraged him ahead of his debut.
"I was really excited but also felt quite nervous. This series was my comeback after an injury. I hadn't played competitive cricket before jumping straight into my debut, which made me more anxious," Yadav said in a conversation with Jio Cinema after the game.
"The recovery process was challenging for me. There were many ups and downs over the last four months. However, it was even tougher for those who supported me during this time," he added.
Mayank emphasized that his priority was to bowl with accuracy rather than focusing solely on speed. Being his first international match, the young pacer was more interested in maintaining an economical bowling style than trying to clock high speeds.
"Today, I concentrated more on my technique. I was committed to hitting the right lengths rather than just bowling faster. I didn't focus on my speed; my goal was to concede the fewest runs possible and maintain a proper line and length."
In an important message from head coach Gautam Gambhir, Mayank shared that he was advised not to overthink his first international match. Gambhir emphasized the importance of sticking to the fundamentals, which is precisely what he told Mayank.
He encouraged him to focus on the basics and rely on the techniques that had worked well for him before. Gambhir advised him against trying new things or letting the significance of the international game affect him. Following the established process was essential, Yadav noted.