Young India spinner Ravi Bishnoi has said that the young team is trying their best to take forward the legacy of legendary players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, who announced their retirement from the T20I format after India won the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean islands as well. While speaking in Harare after India’s loss in the first T20I against Zimbabwe, Bishnoi said that the Indian players were given their best in the game.

However, India lost to Zimbabwe in the first T20I match of the series on Saturday, 7 July as they failed to chase down 116 runs, and lost their first T20I match this year as well. The entire Indian batting unit, including Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Ruturaj Gaikwad failed to step up, as Zimbabwe registered a memorable win.

“We collapsed. The lack of partnerships, that made a difference. If we could have had 20-30 runs partnerships, the story could be different,” Bishnoi said in Saturday. “The seniors handed the responsibility to us and it is our responsibility to take the flag ahead, we are trying our best.”

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We let ourselves down in the field: Ravi Bishnoi

However, India will play their second T20I within 24 hours. India are likely to remain unchanged for the second game in Harare as well. India captain Shubman Gill felt that his team was rusty but he hoped to bounce back in the next match.

“We bowled pretty well, we let ourselves down in the field. 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, would’ve 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. 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,” Gill said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Zimbabwe will take on India in the 2nd T20I match at 4:30 PM IST on Sunday.