ZIM v IND: Captain Gill rues rustiness for shocking loss in 1st T20 as India prepare for comeback in Harare

Team India’s stand-in captain for the Zimbabwe T20Is, Shubman Gill, said no cricket for the players in the lead-up to this series resulted in a shocking loss in the first game as the hosts beat India by 13 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Gill laments rustiness as the reason for the loss as Team India prepares for the next game on Sunday (Jul7) at the same venue.

With no big names around and young guns completing the Playing XI, Gill’s captaincy debut failed to leave a mark. A lesser-experienced Indian Team fell shy of the target in a low-scoring thriller despite the skipper topping the runs chart (31).

India bowled first and restricted Zimbabwe to 115 for nine in 20 overs, with Ravi Bishnoi making headlines for his superb spell of four for 13. Washington Sundar was India’s best performer, picking two wickets and scoring 27 off 34 during the failed chase.

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Gill commented on the team’s rusty fielding, saying, "I think we bowled pretty well, but I think we left ourselves down with the fielding. We weren't up to our standards, and I think everybody looked rusty."

Meanwhile, the Men in Blue lost debutant Abhishek Sharma on a duck before Zimbabwe picked three more wickets under 30 inside the Powerplay, including Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rinku Singh, to put India’s back against the wall. Though Gill stood tall at one end, the Indians kept losing wickets at the other.

Following his wicket, Zimbabwe looked confident of winning this game. Sundar’s handy contribution with the bat did delay the jubilation that followed, but Zimbabwe eventually won the match by 13 runs to stun the recently-crowned world champions.

Speaking of the team’s shallow performance in the 1st T20I, Gill said, "Halfway down, we had lost five wickets, and it would have been best for us if I had stayed there to the end, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. Very disappointed with the way I got out and the way this whole match turned out."

India has a chance to level series

After a shocker in the first T20I, India can redeem themselves in the second game (on Sunday).

Team India is expected to field the same XI and be upbeat to level the series with a statement win.

(With inputs from agencies)