Recently, India won the T20 World Cup 2024 while Zimbabwe failed to even qualify to participate. Selectors have decided to give players of World Cup team rest for this bilateral series giving inexperienced youngsters chance. But Shubman Gill side failed to win their first match despite low total against a spirited Zim side.
Going into the details, India won the toss and elected to field first. Mukesh Kumar dismissed Innocent Kaia for a first ball duck in second over of the innings. Zimbabwe batters never looked settled but Wessly Madhevere(21), Brian Bennett(22), Dion Myers(23) and Sikandar Raza(17) failed to put big score despite starts. Ravi Bishnoi took 4 wickets to dismiss set batters.
Washington Sundar also kept things tight with 2/11 returns. Bishnoi ended his bowling stint with 4/13 returns along with 2 maidens. Clive Madande took Zimbabwe past 110 with 3 boundaries in the final over. Zim finished their innings due to him on 115/9 in 20 overs. It looked an easy chase for India as all youngsters did well in IPL 2024.
But Bennett sent back Abhishek Sharma in the first over for a duck. Tendai Chatara(3/16) and Sikandar Raza(3/25) broke middle order of India to reduce them to 43/5. Shubman Gill(31), who looked like taking it upon him to win the match for India, got dismissed reducing India to 47/6. Washington Sundar(27) and Avesh Khan(16) tried hard but couldn’t take the team to winning shores.
India got dismissed to 102 in 19.5 overs. Zimbabwe won the match for 13 runs. Sikandar Raza got Player of the Match award for his bowling performance and captaincy skills. Well, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel kind of players also failed to play the situation. Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag failed in their debut match and hope they will bounce back in rest of the series.