India's captain, Shubman Gill, expressed disappointment after his significantly altered team underperformed both in the field and with the bat, leading to a surprising 13-run loss against Zimbabwe on Saturday. This marked their first T20 international since their World Cup victory just a week prior. The hosts managed only 115 for nine at the Harare Sports Club after being put into bat, with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi achieving a personal best of four for 13. However, India, featuring a young lineup that excluded any members from the World Cup-winning squad in Barbados, were dismissed for 102 in response. This defeat snapped a 12-match winning streak in T20 internationals for India.
Gill acknowledged during the post-match presentation, "We bowled quite well but we let ourselves down in the field. Everyone seemed a bit rusty." He added, "We discussed taking our time and enjoying our batting, but it didn't work out that way." India's early struggles were evident as they lost their first four wickets for just 22 runs within the first four overs, with debutants Abhishek Sharma (0) and Riyan Parag (2) among those who failed to contribute. The situation worsened to 43 for five when Dhruv Jarel was caught at cover, and India's chances were virtually extinguished when Gill was bowled by Sikander Raza for 31, leaving the score at 47.
Gill reflected, "It would have been ideal if I had stayed until the end. I was very disheartened by how I got out." Off-spinner Raza, who claimed three for 25 and was awarded man of the match, expressed satisfaction with the victory but concern over his team's batting performance. "This isn't a pitch where you expect to be bowled out for 115. Kudos to the bowlers from both teams, but it clearly shows we need to improve our skills. Our catching and ground fielding were outstanding," he said. In a closely contested low-scoring match, a crucial unbeaten partnership of 25 between Zimbabwe's wicketkeeper Clive Madande (29 not out) and Tendai Chatara, who faced nine balls without scoring, proved decisive. Chatara also made significant contributions with his fast bowling, taking three for 16, including two of the four wickets that fell in the first five overs of India's innings. Washington Sundar offered some hope for India after they lost their ninth wicket with the score at 86. Sundar, who had earlier taken two for 11 in four overs of off-spin, was the last man out after scoring 27.
