Indian fast bowler Mayank Yadav said a better mindset and better understanding of his body during rehabilitation helped him bounce back from a 21-month injury.Back in Indian colors after almost two years, Mayank returned figures of 2/18 in four matches as India restricted Zimbabwe to 125/7 in the opening three-match T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.The fast bowler, who underwent surgery for a fractured spine in Christchurch, New Zealand, in July 2025, made a swift move to dismiss Brian Bennett with the first ball of the innings. Bowling consistently above 140 km/h, he produced seaming movements and bounces to trouble the Zimbabwean batsmen throughout the innings.“It always feels better when you come back and play for your country, especially a bowl like this, this kind of spell. It’s a great feeling, and I don’t think I can describe it well through my words.“Obviously it was there because I was coming after two years and there are always difficulties when you come to play for your country. So, I was a little bit scared. But my thinking and my plan was very simple to just use my strength and just keep bowling,” said Mayank during the media interview.He added that the early wicket helped him settle down quickly.“Obviously after the first delivery I calmed down a lot. I felt confident. I’m playing after a while, but I can save with the skills I have, the strength I have; it will help me a lot on 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, mental. When you get injured and, in that phase, mental strength makes a big difference for every player.“So, I think more than the body, for me, mentally I became much better, and I knew my body more after the surgery and after the rehabilitation. Therefore, it makes a big difference for me,” he concluded.India comfortably won by seven wickets, thanks in large part to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s half-century blast. The youngster ran up 50 in just 18 balls, his first innings in international cricket, scoring 50 in 19 matches with four fours and a six.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.