Generous Zimbabwe gift India win as Shubman Gill makes strange decision

On a day when India skipper Shubman Gill came up with the surprising decision of demoting last match’s centurion opener Abhishek Sharma to No. 3, to accommodate the incoming T20 World Cup squad member Yashasvi Jaiswal, the visitors needed to thank their generous hosts Zimbabwe for handing them an easy win.

The Zimbabwe fielders not just dropped catches but also missed them by approaching the ball in a tardy manner, allowing their opponents to reach 182/4 in 20 overs.

Jaiswal (36 off 27) could have been dismissed a couple of times. He added 67 for the first wicket in eight overs with skipper Gill (66 off 49 balls).

Ruturaj Gaikwad, another beneficiary of poor fielding, made 49 off 28 balls to boost India.

Gill surprised everyone with his decision to push previous game’s centurion Sharma down to No. 3 when it could be argued that the skipper should have batted one drop since he was more aware and experienced for that role.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza was the pick of the bowlers with 2/24 in his four overs.

Raza, however, laid the blame squarely on fielding  which looked more like that witnessed in amateur club-level games or corporate matches.

“Think it is the fielding again. We are very proud of it but the wheels are coming off again. We gave away 20 runs extra,” said Raza after the game.

He also blamed his team’s top-order which flunked again. Zimbabwe were reduced to 19/3 although the third wicket, of Brian Bennett, was due to an excellent catch from Ravi Bishnoi at point.

Raza looked good but fell to a catch in deep off Washington Sundar as Zimbabwe were reduced to 37/4. Johnathan Campbell’s dismissal off Sundar again left them at 39/5.

However, Dion Myers unbeaten 65 off 49 balls (7x4s, 1x6), Clive Madende’s 37 off 26 (2x4s, 2x6s) and Wellington Masakadza’s 18 not out off 10 balls took the home team to 159/6 in 20 overs, leaving them lamenting about the missed chances in the field.

Sundar picked 3/15 to be the best bowler.

“We still have problems at the top,” said Raza.

Shubman Gill, India cricket, Zimbabwe