Zimbabwe vs India Match Preview, 2nd T20I

India will look to restore parity in the five-match series when they square off against Zimbabwe in the second T20I on Sunday, July 7, at the Harare Sports Club.

The young Indian team suffered a 13-run defeat in the low-scoring first match as Sikandar Raza's inspirational captaincy proved to be the difference between the two sides. After being sent in to bat first, Zimbabwe managed to recover from a mid-innings collapse thanks to a gritty knock of 29* off 25 balls from Clive Madande. From 90/9, the wicketkeeper-batter added 25 runs for the last wicket alongside Tendai Chatara to take the hosts to 115/9 in their 20 overs.

In reply, India lost wickets at regular intervals as captain Shubman Gill tried to play the anchor's role from the other end. Four wickets fell inside the powerplay and Gill tried to resurrect the innings alongside Dhruv Jurel. However, once the Punjab batter departed for a 29-ball 31 in the 11th over, things were always going to be tough for the Men in Blue. Eventually, the tourists were bowled out for 102, as Zimbabwe won by 13 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Raza and Chatara bagged three wickets each to headline a spirited bowling display from the African nation.

Check Here: Explained: Why does Indian jersey have only single star for 1st T20I vs Zimbabwe?

India handed maiden caps to Abhishek Sharma and Riyan Parag in the game but both of them failed to impress. Jurel also received his first T20I cap but couldn't replicate his success from the Test arena. After having played the first game, the nerves would have settled for the inexperienced Indian side and fans can expect them to express themselves a bit more in the second T20I. Meanwhile, the hosts will look to use the momentum to double their lead on Sunday, July 07.

Match Details:

ZIM vs IND Probable Playing XIs

India:

India will have the same squad for this game as Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are expected to be available from the third T20I. The tourists kept Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, and Harshit Rana on the bench for the first game. It is highly unlikely that the team management would tinker with the side after just one bad game.

Predicted XI

Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi

Check Here: Watch: Riyan Parag receives India cap from father

Zimbabwe:

It was surprising to see Richard Ngarava on the bench for the first game, but the other bowlers bowled exceptionally well to orchestrate a famous win for the Zimbabweans. They should be retaining the same playing XI for the second game, unless some last-minute injury pops up.

Predicted XI

Wessly Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Jonathan Campbell, Clive Madande (wk), Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara