India back to their best: Batting clicks as ultra-aggressive approach powers 76-run win over Zimbabwe

Incredible batting display in the IND vs ZIM match ( PC- Indian Cricket Team, Instagram)

Team India stepped into their second Super 8 game against Zimbabwe with a plethora of changes to their Playing XI. Sanju Samson returned to the side in place of Rinku Singh, Axar Patel replaced Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma dropped down to No. 5 in the batting order. On a fresh wicket, Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field. This was the first time in T20Is that India batted first at Chepauk and they put a mammoth 256 on the board, the highest total in the tournament. Unable to chase it down, Zimbabwe were handed a massive 76-run defeat.

After posting 256, India took the field with confidence. Zimbabwe managed 44 runs in the powerplay, half of what India had scored, without losing a wicket. Following a dropped catch by Rinku, usually one of India’s safest fielders, Tadiwanashe Marumani fell to Axar Patel. India began with Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, who bowled two overs each in the powerplay. Jasprit Bumrah then came in for a single over before the spinners were introduced. Axar and Varun Chakravarthy shared two wickets between them.

Zimbabwe built a brief partnership between Brian Bennett and Sikandar Raza, who put on a brisk 72 off 42 deliveries. It was not until the 17th over that Raza was dismissed, ending the stand. In the space of three deliveries, India struck twice, also removing Ryan Burl.

Bennett continued his attempt to take Zimbabwe over the line alongside Tony Munyonga, but by the 19th over the required rate had climbed beyond reach. Crumbling under pressure and unable to find boundaries, Munyonga was bowled by Arshdeep. The game was effectively over, and in the final over, after a couple of awkward deliveries including a no-ball, Shivam Dube dismissed Tashinga Musekiwa.

Looking back at the first innings, India got off to an aggressive start thanks to Samson’s 24 off 15 balls. At the end of the powerplay, the Men in Blue had raced to 80, their best powerplay of the tournament. After Samson fell to Blessing Muzarabani in the fourth over, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma stitched together a 72-run stand off 42 deliveries. Abhishek brought up his half-century with a single in the 11th over but departed in the 13th.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav walked in next and maintained the momentum, smashing 33 off 13 deliveries at a strike rate of 253.8. After his dismissal, Hardik and Tilak Varma, sent in at No. 6, added 84 runs off just 31 deliveries, the highest partnership of the match. All six Indian batters finished with strike rates above 150, the first time this has occurred in the history of the tournament.

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