World Cup winners India slump to Zimbabwe loss
View(s):Harare, Zimbabwe, AFP: India captain Shubman Gill said his much-changed team let themselves down in the field and with the bat when they crashed to a shock 13-run defeat to Zimbabwe on Saturday in their first T20 international since winning the World Cup just a week ago.
The hosts struggled to 115 for nine after being sent in to bat at the Harare Sports Club, with leg-spin and googly bowler Ravi Bishnoi taking a career-best four for 13. But India, fielding a youthful team that did not include any of the side that won the World Cup in Barbados last Saturday, were bowled out for 102 in reply. The loss ended a streak of 12 successive T20I wins by India.
“We bowled pretty well but we let ourselves down in the field. Everyone looked a bit rusty,” said Gill at the post-match presentation.
“We spoke about taking time and enjoying our batting but it didn’t pan out that way.”
India lost their first four wickets for 22 runs inside the first four overs, with new caps Abhishek Sharma (0) and Riyan Parag (2) among the failures. It became 43 for five when Dhruv Jarel was caught at cover and India’s hopes effectively ended when Gill was sixth out, bowled by opposite number Sikander Raza hitting across the line for 31 with the total on 47.
n Zimbabwe 115 for 9 (20) (Clive Madande 29n.o., Brian Bennett 22, Wessly Madhevere 21; Ravi Bishnoi 4/13, Washinton Sundar 2/11)
n India 102 all out (19.5) (Shubnam Gill 31, Washinton Sundar 27; Tendai Chatara 3/16, Sikandar Raza 3/25)