Shubman Gill’s first-ever match as Indian captain did not go as planned. India’s side was full of players attempting to make the transition from IPL to international cricket. They struggled against Zimbabwe in a low-scoring thriller in Harare.
Many of the players on this tour have had little recent cricket experience. And Shubman Gill claimed during the post-match presentation that this contributed to their demise.
I believe we bowled very effectively, but I think we let ourselves down in the field. We weren’t up to our standards, and I believe everyone looked rusty.
Shubman Gill’s Team Suffers Surprise Defeat
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India skipper Shubman Gill was upset as Zimbabwe surprised the T20 World Champions, delivering them their first T20I defeat of 2024 in a low-scoring thriller in Harare.
Shubman Gill, India’s captain, claimed on Saturday that he should have carried the bat through the first T20I against Zimbabwe, calling his team’s batting effort “disappointing”.
Chasing 116, India was bowled out for 102, giving Zimbabwe a memorable victory in Harare on July 6 (Saturday). When the hosts were reduced to 90/9, they appeared to be in trouble, but a good cameo from Clive Madande (29* off 25) gave the Zimbabwean bowlers something to work with.
Conditions were also an important consideration. Harare provided sideways movement for the new ball, and even after that, the pitch was so sluggish that hitting through the line and over the top, as these hitters were accustomed to in the IPL, didn’t always work.
Five of India’s top six dropped for single-digit scores, with four of those attempting to drive the pace. However, India’s aspirations were crushed when Zimbabwe’s skipper Sikandar Raza (3/25) and Tendai Chatara (3/16) guided his team to a 13-run victory.
India skipper Shubman Gill says rustiness was a major factor in his team’s defeat. Honestly, take your time and appreciate the batting. Not many runs on the board. So there wasn’t a lot of pressure, but the match did not go as planned.
“Halfway down, we had lost five wickets, and it would have been best for us if I had stayed until the end, but that did not happen. I’m quite sad with how I got out and how this entire match played out.” Shubman Gill stated.
Key Moments in IND vs. ZIM Clash
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Despite winning the game, Player of the Match Raza says they must be prepared for the next one. “I’m pleased with the victory. Take one game at a time. The work is not over, and the series has not ended. “World champions play like world champions, so we must be prepared for the next game,” Raza said.
The all-rounder feels that his club still has space for growth. “Our catching and ground fielding were outstanding, but we did make some errors, indicating that there is space for development,” he explained.
Shubman Gill’s team bowled first after winning the toss and reduced Zimbabwe to 115/9 in 20 overs. The home team labored with wickets dropping at regular intervals, as four batsmen failed to bother the scorer.
Opener Wessly Madhevere scored 21 runs off 22 deliveries, while Brian Bennet (22 off 15), Sikandar Raza (17 off 19), and Dion Myers (23 off 22) all had starts but failed to make significant contributions.
Clive Madande dominated the innings with an unbeaten 29 off 25 balls, guiding Zimbabwe to a defendable total. Ravi Bishnoi was the standout player, posting career-best T20I statistics of 4-2-13-4. Washington Sundar also impressed, grabbing two wickets for 11 runs in four overs.
Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan both took one wicket, however Avesh surrendered three boundaries to Madande in the penultimate over. India has an opportunity to regain momentum in the series when they face Zimbabwe in the second T20I on July 7 (Sunday) in Harare.
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