The T20 World Champions, Team India under the leadership of Shubman Gill are taking on Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe. Although, the new looking Indian team did not get the start they were expected, but they did bounce back in the game on the back of Abhishek Sharma’s maiden T20I century, along with some crucial knocks from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rinku Singh.
After their 13-run defeat in the opening T20I on Saturday, July 6, the Men in Blue came back in the game, thumping Zimbabwe with a 100-run defeat on Sunday, July 7. In the second T20I, which was played at the Harare Sports Club, the Shubman Gill-led side won the toss and elected to bat first. Abhishek Sharma’s 100, along with an unbeaten knock from Ruturaj Gaikwad (77) and Rinku Singh (48), helped India post 234 runs on the board.
They comfortably restricted the Sikandar Raza-led side under 150 as the Indian bowling lineup bundled out the hosts at 134 in 18.4 overs. During the ninth over of the Zimbabwe run chase, Indian bowler Ravi Bishnoi was seen engaging in a hilarious exchange with the on-field umpire. Jonathan Campbell, who was seen struggling against Bishnoi, attempted a reverse sweep of the first delivery of latter’s over. Although, he missed it completely, the Indians went for a caught behind but decided to go against it in a while.
Soon afterwards, he missed another reverse sweep but on the third delivery of the over, he attempted a conventional sweep, inside edging it into his pads for it. He brought his third reverse sweep attempt on the fourth delivery of the over, but the result was the same. Here Bishnoi dropped in a funny exchange with the umpire as latter first called for a wide and was quick to change it with a wrying smile on his face.
With the five-match T20I series currently levelled 1-1, the Shubman Gill-led Team India will next take on Zimbabwe in the third T20I on Wednesday, July 10 at 4:30 pm IST at Harare Sports Club.