“I don’t know how Arshdeep allows that” – Ajay Jadeja on Mayank Yadav’s spell in NZ vs IND 2026 4th T20I

Former India player Ajay Jadeja has lauded Mayank Yadav for bowling a potent spell in the fourth T20I against New Zealand. He opined that Shreyas Iyer made a good call in giving the first over to the express pacer, but wondered how Arshdeep Singh allowed it despite being a senior bowler.

Although Mayank registered figures of 3/48 in four overs, New Zealand posted a massive 259/7 in Auckland on Friday, October 30. The Kiwis then restricted the Men in Blue to 172/9 to win the game by 87 runs.

Reviewing the match on Sony Sports, Jadeja praised Mayank for bowling an attacking spell but wondered how Arshdeep allowed him to take the new ball.

“You have looked different in a 260-run total. Every bowler has a style. He should be an attacking bowler only. Whether he bowls the first spell or comes in the middle, you don’t expect yorkers or slower ones from him. He has pace and swing,” the former India captain said.

“One good thing was that the new ball was given to him first. I don’t know how Arshdeep allows that because the senior bowler should get it. He picked up a wicket while attacking in the first over. Whether you get a wicket or not is about luck at times,” he added.

Citing Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Rishabh Pant as examples, Jadeja highlighted that Mayank needs to stick to his strengths.

“He has been brought in for his wicket-taking ability, and he did that only. You are not useful if you leave your strength. What is the advantage of Suryavanshi or Rishabh Pant if you ask them to play like others? Similarly, he is also different. If you are playing him, make him do this job only,” he observed.

Mayank Yadav had Tim Seifert caught by Prince Yadav at third man in his first over and trapped Daryl Mitchell plumb in front of the wickets in his second over. He later had Bevon Jacobs caught by Arshdeep Singh at midwicket to complete his three-wicket haul.

“It’s not easy” – Ajay Jadeja on Mayank Yadav returning to the XI in NZ vs IND 2026 4th T20I

In the same discussion, Ajay Jadeja noted that it wouldn’t have been easy for Mayank Yadav as he missed the previous two games.

“It’s not easy because you played the first match and then didn’t play the next two matches. Then your turn came. If someone is playing regularly, good and bad matches keep happening. So it doesn’t affect your mind that much,” he said.

The former India all-rounder added that the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) seamer would have been recalling the series opener heading into the fourth T20I.

“However, if a player is in and out, he remembers only the previous match. We remember the matches in between, but he doesn’t remember them. So that’s difficult, and you felt good for him from that perspective,” Jadeja observed.

Mayank Yadav registered figures of 1/40 in four overs in the first T20I against New Zealand. He didn’t feature in the next two games before returning to the XI in Auckland at Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s expense.

Edited by Kartik Iyer