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India fast bowler Mayank Yadav last represented the national team in the third T20I against Bangladesh on October 12, 2024, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The speedster returned figures of 2/32 in four overs as India secured a commanding 133-run victory to complete a 3-0 series sweep.
After spending years away from international cricket due to injury setbacks, Mayank Yadav has now been recalled to India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, giving the tearaway pacer another opportunity to establish himself at the highest level.
When did Mayank Yadav last play for India?
Mayank Yadav's most recent appearance for India came on October 12, 2024, in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Hyderabad.
Bowling with his trademark express pace, Mayank picked up 2 wickets for 32 runs from his four-over spell. India produced a dominant all-round display to defeat Bangladesh by 133 runs, completing a clean sweep of the three-match T20I series.
That match also remains his latest international appearance. Across his first three T20Is for India, all against Bangladesh during the same series, Mayank claimed 4 wickets at an average of 20.75 and an economy rate of 6.91. His best T20I figures stand at 2/32, while he bowled 12 overs, conceded 83 runs, and maintained a strike rate of 18 balls per wicket.
Although his international career began promisingly, recurring fitness issues kept him away from the Indian team before his latest recall.
Why has Mayank Yadav returned to India's squad?
Mayank has earned a return to India's T20I squad as the team management continues to manage the workload of several frontline fast bowlers while also building depth ahead of future ICC events.
With senior pacers being rotated and rested during bilateral assignments, the selectors have once again backed Mayank Yadav's ability despite his injury issues. His express pace remains one of the biggest reasons India continue to invest in him, as genuine fast bowlers capable of consistently crossing the 150 kmph mark remain a rare asset.
His inclusion also shows the selectors' long-term planning. Rather than relying solely on established names, India have continued to provide opportunities to younger fast bowlers capable of making an impact in T20 cricket.
Whether Mayank Yadav features in the playing XI will depend on team combination, pitch conditions and fitness considerations. However, his return to the squad suggests he remains firmly in India's plans, with the management keen to see him regain rhythm and build on the encouraging start he made during his debut series against Bangladesh.
Mayank Yadav's IPL journey: Team, salary and career record
Mayank Yadav's rise in the IPL has come with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who signed the Delhi fast bowler ahead of the 2022 season for ₹20 lakh. He did not feature during his first season and subsequently missed the 2023 campaign because of a hamstring injury.
He finally made his IPL debut in 2024 against Punjab Kings and announced himself with figures of 3/27, consistently troubling batters with speeds above 150 kmph. He followed it up with another outstanding spell of 3/14 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, during which he clocked 156.7 kmph, the fastest delivery of IPL 2024. Those performances made him the first player in IPL history to win the Player of the Match award in each of his first two IPL appearances.
Ahead of the IPL 2025 season, Lucknow Super Giants showed immense faith in the young pacer by retaining him for ₹11 crore, a massive jump from his initial ₹20 lakh contract. LSG retained him again for the 2026 season at the same salary.
Across his IPL career so far, Mayank has played 10 matches and taken 9 wickets, with best figures of 3/14. Seven of those wickets came during his breakthrough 2024 campaign, while injuries limited him to only two matches in 2025. He featured in four IPL matches in 2026 but went wicketless as he continued working his way back to full rhythm.
Including his 2022, 2023 and 2024 contracts along with his ₹11 crore retentions in 2025 and 2026, Mayank Yadav's cumulative IPL earnings have reached ₹22.60 crore. Despite his injury setbacks, the Lucknow Super Giants have continued to back the express pacer, underlining their belief in his long-term potential.
