It looks like the stage is all set for the next generation of India cricket stars to take over the mantle from the seniors. The Men in Blue, led by skipper Shubman Gill, clinched a 4-1 series victory against Zimbabwe with a 42 run- win in the 5th T20I. Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar and Abhishek Sharma performed remarkably well with both bat and ball to signal that the younger stars are ready to carry forward the legacy that was once held by seniors of Team India.
India decimate Zimbabwe to clinch series 4-1
Zimbabwe faltered in the 168-run chase right from the start, with Mukesh Kumar rattling the opposition right from the first over. Madhevere (0) was the first to depart within three deliveries as Kumar struck. The speedster doubled up soon enough as he got rid of Bennett (10) in his very next over.
The other opener, Marumani (27) managed to hang on for a bit after the early strikes before Washington Sundar struck. At one point, it looked like Zimbabwe were getting back on track with Dion Myers (34), the only host batter to get past a fifty plus score in this series, was striking at will and frustrating the Indian bowlers. However, his cameo was brought to an end by Shivam Dube.
From there, it all started going downwards for Zimbabwe. Sikandar Raza (8) was dismissed cheaply following a series of horrible mix-ups between Campbell and himself. The latter soon followed the skipper back to the pavilion as Dube struck yet again. Abhishek Sharma, who started off on an expensive note, reaped his reward by getting the scalp of Madande (1).
Faraz Akram (27) attempted to play a late cameo with two sixes and fours each but was stopped short as Mukesh Kumar struck for the third time. While Tushar Deshpande got rid of Mavuta, Mukesh wasted no time in picking up his 4th wicket as India wrapped up the game and the series in a clinical fashion.
Samson’s match-saving fifty rescues India
India started off on a blazing note, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal smashing two sixes off the first two deliveries before Raza got his man. Skipper Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma were back in the pavilion a short while later, with both batters hardly tasting any success.
In came Sanju Samson who played a match-saving 58-run knock, braving a shaky start and stitching a crucial partnership with Riyan Parag to steady the ship for India. Shivam Dube’s (26) small cameo along with Rinku Singh propelled India to a commendable total of 167 runs at the end of 20 overs.
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