'Why is he always retained?': Ashwin fires back at Mayank Yadav's critics

Mayank Yadav returned to international cricket after an injury layoff since October 2024 in the first T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare.

He was named Player of the Match for a match-winning spell, starting with a wicket off the first ball dismissing Brian Bennett.

Ravichandran Ashwin on 'Ash ki Baat' defended Mayank, urging patience for players recovering from recurring injuries like stress fractures.

Ashwin noted injuries create both physical and mental barriers, especially when they resurface, and called Mayank 'exceptionally talented'.

India won the opening T20I convincingly under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer.