How did the 3rd T20I between Zimbabwe and India go? – Review, Turning Points & more

India registered another comprehensive win to conclude their tour of Zimbabwe on Sunday, July 26. The Men in Blue defeated the Chevrons by 35 runs at the Harare Sports Club to complete a 3-0 whitewash.

Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat first before Abhishek Sharma was dismissed cheaply yet again. Ishan Kishan struggled on a sluggish surface but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi kept India afloat. He played aggressive shots as usual but combined them with rotation of strike, understanding that it wasn’t one of the easiest wickets to bat on.

Kishan fell for a 26-ball 29, but Sooryavanshi went on to smash 81 off 49 deliveries. It seemed that he would score his maiden international century but a sensational catch by Brad Evans sent him back to the pavilion.

Shreyas Iyer and Rinku Singh played handy cameos at the back end of the innings, as India finished on 192/5 in their 20 overs.

Brian Bennett was dismissed first ball yet again by Mayank Yadav. Dion Myers and Ben Curran tried to steady the ship but their partnership only yielded 34 runs. Yash Thakur dismissed Myers and Sikandar Raza off consecutive deliveries, putting the tourists in the driving seat.

Ben Curran and Ryal Burl added 31 runs before the former was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi. The latter forged a defiant 60-run stand off 50 balls with Wessly Madhevere. However, they needed to hit a flurry of boundaries in the death overs which turned out to be too huge a task for them.

Burl eventually finished unbeaten on 54 off 43 deliveries, as Zimbabwe were restricted to just 157/7 by the Indian bowlers.

Top batting performance of the match: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played his best knock in international cricket so far. He had slammed an 18-ball fifty in the first T20I. While Sunday’s knock saw him batting much slower, it showed that he is ready to play within himself if the conditions are not in his favour. During his 81-run knock, Sooryavanshi slammed eight fours and four sixes.

Top bowling performance of the match: Mayank Yadav

Mayank Yadav will be mighty pleased with how he bowled in the series, making his comeback to international cricket after 21 months. The right-arm seamer finished with magnificent figures of 3/29 in four overs. He also concluded the series as the highest wicket-taker, with five scalps in three games at an economy rate of 6.55.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• India dropped five catches against Zimbabwe in the third T20I. This is the joint-second-most number of catched dropped by them in a T20I game (where data is available).
• Three catches were dropped off Yash Thakur’s bowling on Sunday. This is the joint-mostoff an Indian bowler in a T20I alongside five other instances (where data is available).
• Sikandar Raza tied Regis Chakabva’s record for the most ducks for Zimbabwe in T20Is (11).
• Raza is second on the list of skippers with most ducks in T20Is (7), only one behind Aaron Finch.
• Mayank Yadav has tied Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the list of Indian bowlers with most first-ball wickets in T20I innings. Both have taken first-ball wickets thrice.
• Sooryavanshi is the only men’s cricketer with more than one 50-plus score before turning 16 in international cricket.

Who won the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi won the Player of the Match for his remarkable knock in tough batting conditions. This is his first Player of the Match award in international cricket. He also went on to win the Player of the Series award.

When is the next match?

This was the last match in the series. India’s next assignment is a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting next month. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe face Australia in a three-match ODI series in September.

Bangladesh have suffered a major setback ahead of their upcoming two-match Test series against Australia, with fast bowler Nahid Rana ruled out due to injury. The pacer sustained a left side strain during the second T20I against Zimbabwe and was racing against time to regain full fitness before the Australia tour.

However, medical scans have confirmed that Rana has suffered a Grade 2 side strain, ending his hopes of featuring in the high-profile Test series. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has estimated that the speedster will require six to eight weeks to recover from the injury. Rana’s absence is a significant blow for Bangladesh, as he has emerged as one of the team’s premier fast bowlers with his pace and ability to trouble batters.

“He is ruled out and cannot go to Australia. Litton Kumar Das’s availability is subject to passing the fitness test,” said BCB official as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh will also be without former captain Litton Das and left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam for the opening Test against Australia in Darwin, with both players continuing their rehabilitation from injuries.

Litton, who travelled to Singapore for a specialist consultation after suffering a left calf injury, underwent platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment. He is scheduled to begin a progressive running and conditioning programme from July 28, with a fitness assessment planned around August 13. If he receives medical clearance, the wicketkeeper-batter is expected to be available for the second Test.

Shoriful, meanwhile, sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring injury during the Zimbabwe series. The left-arm seamer is set to resume bowling from July 29 and will undergo a fitness assessment around August 12. Although he is unlikely to feature in the series opener, he is expected to return for the second Test, subject to successfully completing his bowling workload and receiving medical clearance.

The two-match ICC World Test Championship series begins in Darwin from August 13-17, before the second and final Test is played in Mackay from August 22-26.

India will look to whitewash Zimbabwe as the two teams lock horns in the third T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday, July 26.

The first T20I was won by seven wickets by the Men in Blue on Thursday. Meanwhile, the second T20I took place on Saturday, when the visitors registered a comprehensive 90-run victory. Zimbabwe will have to play out of their skins to challenge India.

ZIM vs IND, 3rd T20I: Toss Update

Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat first, opining that the surface could get slower and slower as the game progresses, especially because it is a used pitch. On the other hand, Sikandar Raza admitted that he would have batted first had he won the toss.

ZIM vs IND, 3rd T20I: Suryansh Shedge, Ashok Sharma return

For the third T20I, India have brought Ashok Sharma and Suryansh Shedge into the side. While Ashok played the first T20I, Shedge will be playing his maiden international game in Zimbabwe. The former has come into the side in place of the injured Prince Yadav. Meanwhile, Shivam Dube has made way for Shedge. It seems that Dube has been rested to give Shedge a chance to showcase his talent.

For Zimbabwe, there is only one change. Raza confirmed that Richard Ngarava has a slight niggle and he has been replaced by left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza.

ZIM vs IND, 3rd T20I: What did the captains say?

Shreyas Iyer, India captain:

We’re going to bat first considering that we are playing on the same wicket and anticipating for it to get slower and slower. [Happy with the way this pitch played yesterday?] Certainly, we got 220 on the board and we got a phenomenal start the way boys played. It’s just, you know, coming today in the morning and reflecting back on those performances give me thrills and obviously want to replicate the same performance again. [On the approach from Indian batters] It’s going to be important for us to adapt as quickly as possible. Can’t guarantee how the wicket is going to play. Is it going to be similar to yesterday or not? But as quickly we adapt, the better for us, and then we’ll try to put a great score on the board. [On the team composition] We’ve got two changes. Prince is out, so Ashok Sharma comes in for him. And Shivam Dube is out, Suryansh comes in.

Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe captain:

[Are you happy to bowl first?] Yeah, we’re gonna have to do that anyway. But yeah, had we won the toss, we were looking to bat first as well. But it wasn’t because of the slowness of the surface. We know scores have remained pretty good throughout, but we just wanted to bat first today. [On mood in the change room] All I said today was that you all are doing really well. I think with the team lapses, it’s slightly more runs needed from the captain. So you guys are all doing a really good job. Now it’s on me to try and rock up as well as a captain. Hopefully, God has given us another opportunity to rock up today and hopefully myself and along with the team as well, can put up a good batting and bowling performance. [On the team composition] We are forced into making a change early this morning. Richard Ngarava unfortunately has a slight niggle, so he misses out and Wellington Masakadza comes in.

ZIM vs IND, 3rd T20I: Playing XIs

India:

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer(C), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Ravi Bishnoi, Ashok Sharma, Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav.

Zimbabwe:

Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani (WK), Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani.