But the Indian cricket team failed to follow the same tact in the first T20I match played at the Harare Sports Club. The match shall see Bangladesh in pursuit of a rather low target of 116 as was set by the Zimbabwe team. The Indian batting, particularly the young ones going into the match, failed to cope with the pressure buildup and folded up at 102 all out in 19.5 overs.
Fan Reactions
https://gty.im/1803333974
It was not favorably accepted by Indian cricket viewers, especially after the T20I retirements of the legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Such ideas were discussed on social media platform X by displaying dissatisfaction.
Some of the major fan comments that have been found include the following lament from one fan:
Bade aye IPL ke stars. They won’t understand the role of Rohit, and Kohli in ICT.
The other fan joked and said,
Nobody was keen on watching a bilateral series with Zimbabwe without Rohit-Kohli, so they rigged the first game to be a loss to spice up this series and gain attention.
A third fan was thankful for Kohli’s contribution, acknowledging how Kohli brought a total of 76 runs in the ICC final and won the trophy for India from 34/3. A fan concluded by saying,
King Kohli saved India like Rohit Kohli was never replaced. Thank you, @imVkohli.
Shubman Gill’s Post-Match Comments
‘n the bowling department, we were okay, but we really messed it up with the fielding. ’We were not up to standard and everyone looked a bit rusty.We spoke about taking time and enjoying our batting, but it didn’t pan out that way. Halfway through, we had lost 5 wickets. It would have been best for us if I stayed there till the end. Very disappointed with the way I got out and the rest of the match panned out.
Shubman Gill further added:
There was a bit of hope for us, but when you’re chasing 115 and your No.10 batter is out there, you know something is wrong.
Match Summary
Chasing a modest target of 116, India were bowled out for 102 in 19.5 overs. Tendai Chatara and Sikandar Raza led Zimbabwe’s bowling attack with figures of 3/16 and 3/25, respectively. Earlier, Clive Madande’s unbeaten 25-ball 29 took Zimbabwe to 115/9 in 20 overs. For India, Ravi Bishnoi was the standout performer in the bowling department, claiming four wickets.
They only managed to get 13 runs, and the match ended with a defeat for the team. Considering a splendid bowling performance from Ravi Bishnoi (4/13) and Washington Sundar (2/11).
The Indian team faces a tough road ahead to bounce back in the remaining matches of the series. Fans and critics alike will be keenly watching how Shubman Gill and his young side respond to this early setback.
Also Read: Sensational Babar Azam Prepares for Test Series Against Bangladesh
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