India fast bowler Mayank Yadav said improving mentally and understanding his body better during rehabilitation helped him make a successful comeback after a 21-month injury layoff.Back in India colors after almost two years, Mayank returned figures of 2/18 in four overs as India restricted Zimbabwe to 125/7 in the T20I opener of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.The pacer, who underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his back in Christchurch, New Zealand, in July 2025, made an immediate impact by dismissing Brian Bennett with the first ball of the innings. Bowling consistently above 140 km/h, he extracted seam movement and bounce to trouble the Zimbabwean batsmen during his spell.“It’s always a great feeling when you come back and play for your country and especially bowl like this, this kind of spell. It’s a fantastic feeling, and I don’t think I can describe it well with my words.“Obviously I was here because it comes after two years and there is always pressure when you come to play for your country. So, I was a little nervous. But my thought and my plan was very simple to execute my strength and just keep bowling,” said Mayank during a mid-innings interview with broadcasters.He added that the first wicket helped him settle down quickly.“Definitely after the first ball wicket I calmed down a lot. I got confidence. I’m playing after a while, but still I can provide with the skills that I have, that strength that I have; it will help me a lot in these types of wickets, especially.”Reflecting on his recovery, Mayank said the biggest change came mentally rather than physically.“There are many things: physical training, mentally. When you are injured and, in that phase, mental strength makes a big difference for every player.“So, I think more than physically, for me, mentally I am much better, and I know my body a lot after the surgery and after the rehabilitation. So, it makes a big difference for me”, he concludes.India completed a comfortable seven-wicket win, largely thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive half-century. The teenager reached a fifty in just 18 balls, his first substantial innings in international cricket, scoring 50 in 19 deliveries with four fours and four sixes.After Mayank and the bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 125/7, India chased down the target in 13.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.