Shubman Gill, who is leading a young side on the tour of African nation, received some relief following India’s win over Zimbabwe in the second T20I played in Harare on Sunday, after the visitors had lost the first game of this series.
Through spectacular batting by its top order and disciplined bowling, India won by an enormous margin of 100 runs to tie the series 1-1. “Very happy, great to be back on the winning note back again. It was not easy especially during powerplay with how Abhishek (Sharma) and Rutu (Ruturaj Gaikwad) batted; it moved around a bit but Abhi and Rutu built brilliantly,” said Gill.
India set up a tough target of 234 for 2 at bat thanks to Abhishek’s sterling ton (100 off 47 balls) which included seven fours and eight sixes. Gaikwad remained unbeaten on 77 off 47 balls with 11 fours and one six while batting at number three. Rinku Singh’s belligerent innings containing five sixes and two fours in his undefeated knock of 48 from just twenty-two deliveries added icing to the cake.
Gill praised both Abhishek and Gaikwad for their partnership yielding 137 runs for the second wicket, while admitting that his young side could not absorb pressure in their opener match of the tour.
“It was more about not being able handle pressure yesterday (1st T20I on Saturday). This is a very young team majority are new to international exposure. Actually having pressure in the first game was good for us because we knew what to expect coming into this game (2nd T20I on Sunday),” said Gill.
“We have got three matches to go and we are looking forward to them. It would rather have more options than no.”
Wessly Madhevere’s 43 off 39 balls was the top score of Zimbabwe as their challenging chase folded at 134 in 18.4 overs.
Right-arm seamers Avesh Khan (3 for 15) and Mukesh Kumar (3 for 37) were India’s leading bowlers with three wickets each while leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2 for 11) got two.
