Yashasvi Jaiswal scored an impressive 93 not out to help India secure a decisive lead in the series. The win in the 4th T20I also gave Shubman Gill his first T20I series victory as India’s captain.

Shubman Gill’s team defeated Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the fourth T20I. India chased down the target of 153 runs in just 15.2 overs, Jaiswal’s outstanding 93 run performance. After returning from the T20 World Cup without playing a single game, Jaiswal showed why he is seen as the future of India in the T20I format.

This victory marked Shubman Gill’s first series win as captain, providing much needed relief after being left out of the T20 World Cup 2024 and losing the first match of the series. Gill contributed significantly alongside Jaiswal, scoring his second half century of the tour.

Jaiswal’s impact on the series

Jaiswal’s innings (93* off 53) set the tone for India’s game against Zimbabwe. Before this match, Indian batters struggled in the early overs, but Jaiswal changed that on Saturday, starting strong and hitting 13 fours and 2 sixes. This allowed Gill (58* off 39) to play a steady innings, supporting Jaiswal effectively.

Jaiswal’s performance was crucial for him personally, as he is competing with Abhishek Sharma, who scored a century in the 2nd T20I.

Gill and Jaiswal’s partnership

The openers quickly chased down the target on a good batting pitch in Harare. For the first time in the series, Indian batters dominated the powerplay against the new ball, while Zimbabwe must be disappointed for not capitalizing on their 63 run opening stand.

Zimbabwe lost momentum after their openers Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani fell. Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar bowled well, supported by part timer Abhishek Sharma, who bowled 3 overs, taking 1 wicket for just 20 runs.

Besides Ravi Bishnoi, all five bowlers took wickets, with Tushar Deshpande and Abhishek Sharma claiming their first international wickets.

This series has seen India getting stronger, with today’s match highlighting their dominance in all three aspects of the game. India will play one more T20I, tomorrow at the same venue.

Following the T20 World Cup 2024 in June, Zimbabwe is set to welcome India for a thrilling five-match T20I series starting July 6. All the action will unfold at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, culminating in the series finale on July 14. Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed this exciting development through a press release, along with the release of the complete series schedule.

Notably, India’s last visit to Zimbabwe was in 2022 for a three-match ODI series, where they secured a clean sweep victory of 3-0 against the hosts. This upcoming T20 series promises to be captivating, marking the Men in Blue’s return to Zimbabwe for T20 after several years, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the cricketing spectacle.

India’s Tour of Zimbabwe: Five-Match T20I Series Schedule Revealed

The Complete Schedule:

Zimbabwe Cricket has officially announced the series schedule following productive discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, expressed his excitement in unveiling the series schedule. He emphasized that hosting India represents Zimbabwe’s premier international cricket event at home this year, acknowledging India’s significant contributions and influence on the sport. Mukuhlani also extended gratitude to the BCCI for their continued commitment to touring Zimbabwe.

Expressing his excitement, he stated, “We are incredibly excited to welcome India for a T20I series in July, marking our premier international event at home this year. India’s unwavering dedication and influence have greatly enriched the game of cricket. A heartfelt thank you to the BCCI for their steadfast commitment to touring Zimbabwe once again. This tour holds immense significance, especially as we endeavor tirelessly to reclaim our position as a formidable force in the highest echelons of the sport.”

The last T20I series between India and Zimbabwe took place in 2016, featuring three thrilling matches that ended in a 1-1 draw, with India clinching victory in the final game. Zimbabwe displayed commendable competitiveness throughout the series, narrowly losing by a margin of only two runs in the first match and three runs in the third. Additionally, in 2015, India engaged in a two-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which also ended in a 1-1 draw.

The anticipation lies in whether prominent Indian players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah will participate in the upcoming series. With the T20 World Cup final scheduled for June 29, 2024, the Indian cricket team faces a hectic schedule if they advance to the final, adding further excitement to their potential involvement in the Zimbabwe series.

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In the following three-match One-Day International series, which begins on Friday in Auckland, Team India will take on New Zealand. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, a left-handed batter, will lead the team. Dhawan will captain the team for the third time in 2022. He has done so before, first in the West Indies ODI series and then in the home ODI series against South Africa (Dhawan also led Team India in the away Sri Lanka series last year when the main team was in England). 

It is important to note that the batter was also named captain for the Zimbabwe series.

However, KL Rahul came back into the team at the last minute after recovering from his injury, and he was named captain. Dhawan was questioned prior to the first ODI against New Zealand about his reaction to his sudden removal as Zimbabwe series captain.

“You have asked a good question. I consider myself fortunate that I am getting an opportunity to lead the side at this stage of my career. I feel good about it and it is a challenge. We have won good series with a young side. If I talk about the Zimbabwe tour, KL Rahul is the vice-captain of our main team, when he came back, I was mindful of the fact that he had to go to Asia Cup. If Rohit had gotten injured during Asia Cup, then KL might have been asked to lead. So it was better that he had the practice during the Zimbabwe tour. I was not hurt. I feel that whatever happens, happens for the best. I was then selected as the captain for the South Africa series, the selectors and the team management gave me that opportunity. I never feel bad,”

Dhawan said during a pre-match press conference.

Talking about the 2023 World Cup, and how having options such as himself, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to open might prove as a headache for the team:

“We guys have been performing well for a period of time. At the same time, talking about myself, I have to keep performing. I know till the time I perform,  it would be good for me. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me hungry.”

Dhawan said

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When asked about how he ensures that mental health stays in top shape in this social media age: 

“On social media, there is trolling. We are used to it now, smart people know how to go about using social media. They know if they don’t perform, what kind of chatter will take place on social media. It totally depends on our performance. When you know it, there is no need of looking into it. That’s how I deal with it.”,

Dhawan concluded

T20 World Cup’22, ZIM vs IND: India 186 for 5 (Suryakumar 61*, Rahul 51, Williams 2-9) beat Zimbabwe 115 (Burl 35, Raza 34, Ashwin 3-22) by 71 runs

India reached 186 for 5 thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s remarkable death-overs hitting, with Suryakumar scoring 61 runs out of 25. After that, India’s quicks quickly ended the game, reducing Zimbabwe to 28 for 3 at the end of the powerplay and 36 for 5 shortly thereafter.

Zimbabwean resistance was scattered. Williams and Sikandar Raza took a wicket each in the 12th, 13th, and 14th overs of India’s innings. After that, Raza and Ryan Burl scored 60 runs off 35 balls for the sixth wicket, but Zimbabwe’s run rate never quite met the demand.

India, on the other hand, crushed it. KL Rahul made 51 off 35 for his second fifty in a row. With his 26 off 25, Virat Kohli regained his position at the top of the tournament’s run-getters list.

Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar then took wickets in each of their first overs with skillful swing, followed by Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya. R Ashwin ended the game by going 3 for 22 in his four innings.

The outcome was a victory by 71 runs

Suryakumar’s spectacular fine-leg hits

Where can Suryakumar be bowled to? Before their semi-final on Thursday, England will now have to try to figure this out.

The 18th over ended with a stunning six-over extra cover off Tendai Chatara, but the more impressive shots came over fine leg. Zimbabwe attempted to go full and wide to Suryakumar while stacking the offside. However, the batter continued to throw his front leg away to the offside, sometimes even to the crease’s wide markers. After that, he swept two of those balls over the fine-leg boundary with such force that it seemed to defy gravity.

Another wide full toss was the final ball of the innings; however, since fine leg was back for this one, Suryakumar scooped it up and shoved it over his left shoulder, resulting in the ball once more bouncing just over the rope.

Rahul gets India humming

However, Rahul had done the most to provide Suryakumar with a platform. After batting a maiden against Richard Ngarava in the opening over, he hit a six way over deep square leg midway through the next over and appeared to be in good shape thereafter.

His half-century was extended by two more sixes, both of which were down the ground. But there was a lot of smart running in the middle, especially when Virat Kohli was there.

Zimbabwe’s brief squeeze

Zimbabwe did launch a comeback between the 12th and 15th overs, despite Rahul’s fifty. Kohli was caught at long-off when Williams first got him out. After Rahul had attempted to repeat the six that had taken him past fifty in the previous ball, Raza dismissed him in the next over, slowed the ball, and had him give a high catch to long-off once more.

Burl’s outstanding running catch at long-on from left-hander Rishabh Pant cost the third wicket. Burl sprinted full tilt along the boundary to get both hands on it and completed the catch with a dive after Pant hit a flat and hard shot off Williams’s bowling.

India’s quicks blast out Zimbabwe’s top order

India’s seamers made it nearly impossible for Zimbabwe to win inside the powerplay after they scored 83 runs in the final six overs of their innings. Wessly Madhevere almost middled a late-swinging Bhuvneshwar delivery, but Kohli at short cover took a sharp catch diving low to his right.

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Arshdeep hit Regis Chakabva’s defences with his next swing. Then, at that point, late in the powerplay, Williams cut one to profound third. The path was too steep when Shami struck Tony Munyonga in front and Hardik Pandya caught and bowled Craig Ervine in the seventh over.

Even the excellent stand of Burl and Raza was never really threatened.