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Akshaya: An all-round performance from India, helping them to beat Zimbabwe comprehensively. Chasing a well below par total of 190, Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill, the Indian openers took the honours on themselves and batted through the chase as India take 1-0 lead in this three-match series with a crunching 10-wicket win.

Both the openers batted cautiously and slowly they built the partnership. Dhawan was playing the anchor role while Gill took advantage of the loose deliveries. Both reached their respective half-centuries and finished the chase with 19.1 overs remaining. Gill was unbeaten on 82 off 72 deliveries while Dhawan took the team home with a boundary and remained not out at his personal score of 81 runs from 113 deliveries.

Earlier, India won the toss and opted to field first. The comeback man Deepak Chahar breathed fire during the powerplay and Zimbabwe's top-order had no answers for it. It all started with Innocent Kaia and continued till Wesley Madhevere as the hosts lost their top four within the 11th over. 

Sikandar Raza (12 off 17) and Regis Chakabva (35 off 51) batted a bit sensibly compared to others, adding 35 runs for the fifth wicket. Once Prasidh Krishna broke this stand by dismissing Raza, the batting side again collapsed. 

At one stage it was all gloomy for Zimbabwe as they were at 110/8, but the counter-attacking batting displays by Brad Evans (33* off 29) and Richard Ngarava (34 off 42) helped them to post a total, that was close to the 200-run mark. This was the highest ever ninth wicket stand (70 runs) for Zimbabwe against India. Prasidh again broke the stand and eventually, the hosts were skittled out for 189 in 40.3 overs. 

For India, Deepak Chahar (7-0-27-3), Prasidh Krishna (8-0-50-3), and Axar Patel (7.3-2-24-3) bowled well and scalped three wickets. Mohammed Siraj took a wicket amidst the chaos! Kuldeep Yadav failed to impress as he couldn't get any wicket.

6:44 IST| Time for the presentation ceremony..

Regis Chakabva(Zimbabwe captain): "The Indian bowlers obviously bowled well, put the pressure on us. We started it well but lost our way during the 8-15th over mark. It was really good to see Richie and Evans work well at the cue end. Look, there was quality , and like you know there needs to be one or two good partnership but that didn't happy today. 

I think the bowlers tried to come way too hard on them, but Shuman and Shikhar took it away from us quite well. Obviously, we'll have a quick chat for the next game and move ahead."

Stylish Player of the match: Shubman Gill for two catches and 82 runs.

Player of the match: Deepak Chahar (for first three wickets in ZImbabwe's innings)

Deepak Chahar (Player of the Match): "Yeah, the area was a little hard near the popping crease. And when you play after six months, you get a little nervous and want to do well. You know, before coming here, I played some practice games, playing for your country, you want to give your all. The body and mind wasn't working for the first few overs. Yeah, obviously,  I wanted to bowl a bouncer and the spikes didn't really land well then and I had slept."

KL Rahul (India captain): "Yes, I'm on the field so I am happy. Yeah, it does, we do play a lot of games. Injury plays a part in the game. It gets really boring when we don't get to play cricket. It's better to play cricket than to be with the physios and get rehabilitated. We actually, me, Kuldeep and Deepak were at Bangalore getting ready to be fit for the series.

The bowlers were feeling that there was  little bit of assistance for the bowlers, you bowl back of a length, and there was movement. As in Indian team, we have been doing well, winning the series in West Indies, back in England as well. Good to see, the boys are getting enough time to work hard and get time to gel well."

So this is it from the coverage. India wins takes a 1-0 lead in the series and in a comfortable manner. Its time to sign off now, alongside my co-commentators, Anurag Dasgupta, Akshaya Krishna Polya, and helping buddies, Gargi Raut, Arjun Bhalla, and Probuddha Bhattacharya. 

Special shoutout to our scorer analysts, Chandan Kumar Singh and Bishal Mondal. Thank you and until then, keep up with our network - the NED vs PAK series, ENG vs SA Test, Maharaja Trophy, Hundred and much more.