Shubman Gill’s young Team India played commanding cricket, overcoming a shaky start to clinch the T20I series against Zimbabwe 4-1. This victory served as a double triumph: not only did it extend the World Champions’ dominance in the shortest format, but it also unveiled a new generation of cricketers ready to take the mantle from the recently retired legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
With the senior players rested after their grueling T20 World Cup campaign, this series provided a golden opportunity for the IPL stars to prove their mettle on the international stage. Here’s a look at the 5 biggest positives that emerged from this exciting series:
5 biggest positives for Team India
Washington Sundar is an ideal Jadeja replacement
Apart from the likes of Rohit and Kohli, there was another big name who bid adieu to the shortest format in Ravindra Jadeja. However, Washington Sundar stepped up admirably, showcasing his well-rounded skillset. Throughout the series, he not only provided economical bowling spells but also chipped in with crucial runs down the order in the opening T20I, proving himself as a worthy successor to Jadeja’s all-rounder legacy.
What was heartening to see was how easily Sundar gained turn off the deck. He enticed batters with flight, an ability which previously lacked somewhat. The 24-year-old bagged the Player of the Series award for his eight wickets in five games, the joint-highest. Sundar’s economy of 5.17 was also the best in the whole series.
India’s opening present & future looks ..scary!
This series marked the arrival of new talent on the international scene – Abhishek Sharma. Making a dream debut in the rubber, Abhishek impressed everyone with his clean hitting and ability to handle pressure situations. He clubbed a powerful hundred in the second match, with his fearless approach suggesting a bright future ahead.
Jaiswal, on the other hand, failed to get any game time in the World Cup. However, he seized the opportunity with both hands, playing some scintillating knocks throughout the series. His elegant strokeplay and ability to build partnerships at the top of the order showcased his potential as the present and future opening icon. Both the southpaws have only given Team India a much-needed headache as far as the opening conundrum is concerned.
Mental fortitude on display
The young Indian team’s character truly shone through after their unexpected loss in the opening T20I. Instead of succumbing to the pressure, they displayed remarkable mental resilience. Under the leadership of Gill, the team introspected, learned from their mistakes, and came back stronger in the remaining matches. Despite failing to even chase down a paltry total of 116 runs, the Men in Blue gave due credits to the hosts, and played according to situations from next games onwards.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad showing his versatility
Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his impressive run from the IPL, where he ended up as the second-highest run-getter. He displayed remarkable adaptability throughout the series, playing a crucial anchor role in some matches and then exploding with a spicy knock with a 28-ball 49. He did so while batting at number 4, a batting slot where he never previously batted at for India. His exceptional average (66.5) and strike rate (158.33) goes to show how desperate Gaikwad was to prove himself with the bat.
Mukesh Kumar should ideally partner Bumrah & Arshdeep!
The series wasn’t just about batting fireworks. Mukesh Kumar emerged as a vital cog in the bowling attack. Despite playing two matches fewer than some of his teammates, he ended the series as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker (8), showcasing his knack to create early breakthroughs and disrupt the opposition’s batting rhythm.
Mukesh is quite a deceptive T20 bowler. While he has all the abilities to swing the ball up front, he is hard to negotiate in the death overs. The 30-year-old not only bowls hard lengths but can even dish out accurate yorkers, that too, at will.
With the T20 World Cup win still fresh in their memory, this team, under the guidance of a new generation of talents, seems poised to continue India’s dominance in the world of T20 cricket.
