Shubman Gill-led Team India went down to Zimbabwe by 13 runs in their first T20I only a week after they lifted the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in Barbados. India failed to chase down a lowly target of 116 runs at Harare Sports Club in Harare and were folded for a mere 102 runs.
India crash badly in lowly run chase
It was India's first match after winning the T20 World Cup on June 29, and following the T20I retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Opener Abhishek Sharma was the first of India's four wickets to fall inside the powerplay, departing for a four-ball duck in the first over. Ruturaj Gaikwad was the next to go in the fourth over, with the team score at 15. Debutants Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh then fell in the same over, leaving India at 22 runs. The powerplay ended with India struggling at 28/4. Third debutant Dhruv Jurel managed to provide some support to skipper Shubman Gill for the fifth wicket before being dismissed for a 14-ball 6. Gill's dismissal (31) three balls later in the 11th over with the team score at 47 effectively sealed India's fate. Washington Sundar tried to keep India's innings alive with 27 runs off 34 balls, but with 16 runs needed in the last over, he couldn't clear the boundary. For Zimbabwe, skipper Sikandar Raza took 3/25, while Chatara claimed 3/16. Additionally, Brian Bennett, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, and Luke Jongwe each contributed with a wicket.
Ravi Bishnoi's heroics in vain
Earlier, Indian bowlers, led by leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, delivered a commanding performance to restrict an inexperienced Zimbabwe to 115/9. Bishnoi (4/13) received strong support from off-spinner Washington Sundar (2/11) as Zimbabwe struggled to form any significant partnerships after being invited to bat on a pitch that offered good bounce and carry. Despite the overall struggle, Zimbabwe made a brisk start, reaching 40 for two in the Power Play, although their batters were not always convincing. Innocent Kaia was the first to go, dragging a Mukesh Kumar delivery onto his stumps. Wessly Madhevere (21 off 22 balls) and Brian Bennett (22 off 15 balls) then added 34 runs quickly. The highlight of their partnership was the fifth over, in which they scored 17 runs off left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, with Bennett hitting two consecutive boundaries.
However, the dismissal of Bennett by Bishnoi in the sixth over changed the game's dynamics. Bennett failed to read Bishnoi’s googly, which also accounted for three more Zimbabwe batters later on - Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani, and Luke Jongwe. Zimbabwe crawled to 74 for three, thanks to skipper Sikandar Raza’s patience (17 off 19 balls), but soon lost their way, losing six wickets for 41 runs.
The Zimbabwean batters seemed to panic, as evidenced by the dismissal of Jonathan Campbell, son of former Zimbabwe skipper Alastair Campbell. Campbell pushed an Avesh Khan delivery to the covers, called for a single, and his partner Dion Myers responded. However, Campbell changed his mind and stayed back as Myers crossed the crease, forcing the former to walk back. Raza, the last hope for Zimbabwe, raised some hope by smashing Avesh for a six over the bowler’s head. But the extra bounce generated by Avesh soon led to Raza’s dismissal, as his mistimed pull ended in Bishnoi’s hands in the deep. Washington Sundar then joined the party with two wickets in as many balls, dismissing Myers (23 off 22 balls) and Wellington Maskadza (0) consecutively. In the process, Sundar also completed 100 wickets in T20s. Clive Madande’s cameo (29 not out off 25 balls) helped Zimbabwe go past the 100-run mark.
India will now look to bounce back when they next face Zimbabwe in the second T20I on July 7.
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