On July 6, 2024, at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza (R) and his teammates celebrate Shubman Gill’s (unseen) dismissal during the inaugural T20 international cricket match between Zimbabwe and India.
In their first Twenty20 international match after winning the World Cup just one week ago, India’s skipper Shubman Gill claimed his drastically altered squad failed both in the field and at the batting as they lost shockingly to Zimbabwe on Saturday, scoring 13 runs in the process.
Sent in to bat at the Harare Sports Club, the hosts battled to 115 for nine, with leg-spin and googly bowler Ravi Bishnoi claiming a career-best four for 13.
However, India was bowled out for 102 in reply, playing a young lineup devoid of any players from the team that won the World Cup in Barbados on Saturday.
The defeat put an end to India’s run of twelve straight T20I victories.
“We performed fairly well when bowling, but we fell short in the field. Gill remarked, “Everyone looked a little rusty,” following the game.
“We discussed taking our time and enjoying our batting, but that wasn’t how it worked out.”
Within the first four overs, India lost their first four wickets for 22 runs, with new captains Abhishek Sharma(0) and Riyan Parag(2) among the casualties.
Dhruv Jarel’s catch at cover turned the score to 43 for five, and India’s hopes were all but dashed when Gill was bowled by opposite number Sikander Raza for 31 after he smashed a straight drive across the line with the score at 47.
Gill stated, “It would have been best for us if I stayed to the end.” “I was really unhappy with how I was able to leave.”
The hero of the match, off-spinner Raza, who took three wickets for twenty-five, expressed his disappointment with his team’s batting but expressed satisfaction with the victory.
Tendai Chatara, who faced nine balls without scoring a run, and Zimbabwean wicketkeeper Clive Madande (29 not out) held an undefeated last wicket stand of 25 runs, which proved significant in a low-scoring encounter.
Then, with three wickets for sixteen overs, including two of the four wickets that went in the opening five overs of India’s innings, Chatara emerged as a major player with his fast bowling.
With the score at 86 and having lost their ninth wicket, Washington Sundar gave India hope.
Before being the final man out, Sundar, who had earlier taken two for eleven in four overs of off-spin bowling, made 27.
