129/10 (17.5)
CR : 7.23
219/5 (20.0)
CR : 10.95
India won by 90 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
I Kishan
81(44)
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe Captain): "[Where did you feel it didn't quite go well in the first half?] I thought the boys bowled well in patches, but credit to the Indians as well. Some of the shots, some of the skill they showed on today were something to admire. Again, we have been saying for some time that we could do better on the field as well. If I think the fielding department can help out the bowling department as well, then I think we could have added a bit more pressure. But nothing to take away from the Indian batters. I thought the show they put on today was something to learn from.
[On Ishan Kishan's knock] Yeah, certainly Ishan has done that quite regularly and consistently. I think he is going through that patch as well. And he is batting really well, especially at number three, which could be a tricky role sometimes. Him and Tilak started to bat well. Like I said, just the skill they have and what they showed us today is something to learn from, and hopefully, it will help us become better.
[On the chat during the halfway mark regarding this big run chase] Yeah, we were going for it anyway. If you look at our openers as well, I think they gave us a sort of start we needed. Unfortunately, it comes down to inexperience at times and sometimes shot selection, which is where we're letting ourselves down. But most importantly, I think I've been letting the team down as captain with my batting. The onus is on me to get it right because the team needs my runs and bowling, and unfortunately that hasn't been the case over the last two T20 games. But, Inshallah, I'll try my best to turn it around because the team could really do with my runs."
[On Ishan Kishan's knock] Yeah, certainly Ishan has done that quite regularly and consistently. I think he is going through that patch as well. And he is batting really well, especially at number three, which could be a tricky role sometimes. Him and Tilak started to bat well. Like I said, just the skill they have and what they showed us today is something to learn from, and hopefully, it will help us become better.
[On the chat during the halfway mark regarding this big run chase] Yeah, we were going for it anyway. If you look at our openers as well, I think they gave us a sort of start we needed. Unfortunately, it comes down to inexperience at times and sometimes shot selection, which is where we're letting ourselves down. But most importantly, I think I've been letting the team down as captain with my batting. The onus is on me to get it right because the team needs my runs and bowling, and unfortunately that hasn't been the case over the last two T20 games. But, Inshallah, I'll try my best to turn it around because the team could really do with my runs."
Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan (POTM): "[How does he feel after today's performance?] Obviously, when you get runs for your team and end up getting a good total and being on the winning side, it's always good to be there in that situation. But yeah, happy about the team performance, and overall we did very well today.
[On his approach compared to the first game] To be very honest, I didn't feel like the wicket was something where we just go in and could just score 200-plus runs. The target was just around 180 to get there because there was odd bounce on a few deliveries. So we just thought the partnerships were going to be very important. But as a number three batter, once you're set in the middle, you want to end up scoring big runs so that your team gets going and you end up to a total like 200-odd, 220 like we did today.
[On his approach after losing early wickets] I mean, you don't think about the wickets which have gone. The past is past. You just have to keep watching the ball. You know your strengths, you know where you can score and which bowlers you can target. It's about being smart in the middle. I kept it very simple in the middle, and I was just playing my shots all around the ground.
[On India's bunch of young fast bowlers] I'm really happy to see them, especially Mayank Yadav, Yash and everyone. Prince coming in. He has played a few matches, but all of them, their energy in the ground. You know, it's not about just bowling there. They've all worked really hard and each of them has a great story behind their success. But at the same time, when it comes to the fielding department, they have done the same as they are bowling. It's really good to have them around, and the way they're bowling, I think they're going to make a big name for themselves.
[On his missed run out chance that turned out to be a comedy of errors] I thought the batter was already inside the crease, but my bad. I'll be looking at the batters next time (chuckles)."
[On his approach compared to the first game] To be very honest, I didn't feel like the wicket was something where we just go in and could just score 200-plus runs. The target was just around 180 to get there because there was odd bounce on a few deliveries. So we just thought the partnerships were going to be very important. But as a number three batter, once you're set in the middle, you want to end up scoring big runs so that your team gets going and you end up to a total like 200-odd, 220 like we did today.
[On his approach after losing early wickets] I mean, you don't think about the wickets which have gone. The past is past. You just have to keep watching the ball. You know your strengths, you know where you can score and which bowlers you can target. It's about being smart in the middle. I kept it very simple in the middle, and I was just playing my shots all around the ground.
[On India's bunch of young fast bowlers] I'm really happy to see them, especially Mayank Yadav, Yash and everyone. Prince coming in. He has played a few matches, but all of them, their energy in the ground. You know, it's not about just bowling there. They've all worked really hard and each of them has a great story behind their success. But at the same time, when it comes to the fielding department, they have done the same as they are bowling. It's really good to have them around, and the way they're bowling, I think they're going to make a big name for themselves.
[On his missed run out chance that turned out to be a comedy of errors] I thought the batter was already inside the crease, but my bad. I'll be looking at the batters next time (chuckles)."
Shreyas Iyer (India Captain): "[Congratulations! How good is he feeling after winning the first series as captain?] Thank you so much. I feel exultant, especially with the way we won today. It was a comprehensive win and a brilliant contribution from each and every one.
[On what stood out most for him in today's performance] Starting with the batting, I think the way Ishan and Tilak played, a few of the shots they played were rakanaka (means beautiful in the Shona language (chuckles)). And it was really pleasing to the eye. Coming to the total of 220, at the start we got, I felt anything between 180 and 200 would have been a par score, but we ended up getting 220, which was the icing on the cake. So, yeah, brilliant contributions by them. Then, in bowling, as usual, the way they came in, executed their lines and lengths precisely and bundled them out for 130-odd. I think that basically tells you the story.
[On the fearless mindset of the team] That's how you've got to approach the game. I feel it's all about the attitude. Not to dwell too much on the previous or past performances. Keep going forward and, more importantly, you need to be in the present. You've got to maximise every opportunity you get. Tomorrow it is going to be another one, so we're looking forward to it.
[Series in the bag. Any changes tomorrow?] We will see. We haven't decided yet, and I haven't spoken to the coach yet. One of our players (Prince Yadav) got injured, unfortunately, so there could be a couple of changes."
[On what stood out most for him in today's performance] Starting with the batting, I think the way Ishan and Tilak played, a few of the shots they played were rakanaka (means beautiful in the Shona language (chuckles)). And it was really pleasing to the eye. Coming to the total of 220, at the start we got, I felt anything between 180 and 200 would have been a par score, but we ended up getting 220, which was the icing on the cake. So, yeah, brilliant contributions by them. Then, in bowling, as usual, the way they came in, executed their lines and lengths precisely and bundled them out for 130-odd. I think that basically tells you the story.
[On the fearless mindset of the team] That's how you've got to approach the game. I feel it's all about the attitude. Not to dwell too much on the previous or past performances. Keep going forward and, more importantly, you need to be in the present. You've got to maximise every opportunity you get. Tomorrow it is going to be another one, so we're looking forward to it.
[Series in the bag. Any changes tomorrow?] We will see. We haven't decided yet, and I haven't spoken to the coach yet. One of our players (Prince Yadav) got injured, unfortunately, so there could be a couple of changes."
India vs Zimbabwe T20I Bilateral Series:
Total: 5
India Won: 4*
Draw: 1
Total: 5
India Won: 4*
Draw: 1
Most Instances of an Indian Player Scoring at least 50 runs and Picking Up at least a Wicket in a T20I:
5 - Hardik Pandya
3 - Yuvraj Singh, Shivam Dube
2 - Virat Kohli, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma*
5 - Hardik Pandya
3 - Yuvraj Singh, Shivam Dube
2 - Virat Kohli, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma*
Best Bowling Figures for an Indian Spinner vs Zimbabwe in T20Is:
4/13 - Ravi Bishnoi, Harare, 2024
3/15 - Washington Sundar, Harare, 2024
3/17 - Axar Patel, Harare, 2015
3/17 - Abhishek Sharma, Harare, 2026, Today*
3/22 - Ravichandran Ashwin, Melbourne, 2022
4/13 - Ravi Bishnoi, Harare, 2024
3/15 - Washington Sundar, Harare, 2024
3/17 - Axar Patel, Harare, 2015
3/17 - Abhishek Sharma, Harare, 2026, Today*
3/22 - Ravichandran Ashwin, Melbourne, 2022
Best Bowling Figures for Abhishek Sharma in T20s:
3/7 (Punjab) vs Puducherry, Lucknow, 2021
3/17 (India) vs Zimbabwe, Harare, 2026, Today*
3/22 (Punjab) vs Hyderabad, Jaipur, 2022
3/7 (Punjab) vs Puducherry, Lucknow, 2021
3/17 (India) vs Zimbabwe, Harare, 2026, Today*
3/22 (Punjab) vs Hyderabad, Jaipur, 2022
DID YOU KNOW? Abhishek Sharma (3/17) is the first Indian opener to take a three-wicket haul in a men's T20I. Virender Sehwag (3/43 in an ODI vs Australia in Sydney, 2012) was the last Indian opener to pick up three wickets in any men's international fixture.
That is it from this game! Shreyas Iyer-led India seal a dominant win in the second T20I and take an unassailable 2-0 lead. The third T20I is coming up tomorrow (Sunday) in Harare itself. We will be bringing its coverage, too. India will aim to complete a whitewash, while Zimbabwe will aim to avoid that.
For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Darpan Tikiya, scorer Manish Bishnoi and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!
For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Darpan Tikiya, scorer Manish Bishnoi and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!