Team India’s five-game Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe got off to a terrible start. On Saturday, July 6, both teams squared off in the opening Twenty20 International of the series at the Harare Sports Club. Zimbabwe won the match by 13 runs after restricting India to a total of 102 runs after being reduced to 115 runs.
Shubman Gill, the star hitter, had an unsatisfactory maiden outing as captain. It is also important to note that a number of players in the starting lineup have not played much recently, which is reportedly one of the main reasons India lost the match.
Following the loss, captain Gill on the pitch to emphasise the same points, namely that every member of the team appeared rusty and that their fielding failed them throughout the match.
“We did a decent job of bowling, but I believe our fielding let us down. ESPNcricinfo cited Gill as stating, “We weren’t up to our standards and I think everybody looked rusty.”
Very disappointed with the way I got out: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill also thought back on his dismissal against Zimbabwe in the opening Twenty20 International. Gill, who started the Men in Blue’s innings, made 31 runs off of 29 deliveries before being replaced in the pavilion. India’s top scorer, Gill, disclosed that the team’s plan was to bat normally.
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Just enjoy the batting and take your time, that’s all. There aren’t many runs on the board. Not a lot of pressure, but it wasn’t how the match was supposed to go. It would have been great for us if I had stayed there until the very end, but sadly that didn’t happen. At this point, we had lost five wickets. Extremely disappointed in how this entire match transpired and how I was ejected,” Gill exclaimed.