Raza stars as Zimbabwe stun India in low-scorer

India's post T20 World Cup party hit a snag as Zimbabwe handed them their first defeat in T20Is in 2024. Having been restricted to 115 for 9, the Zimbabwe bowlers came out with gusto, picking up wickets at regular intervals to bowl India out for 102 in 19.5 overs. 

This, of course, was India's second-string T20I line-up - the first-choice squad is getting some time off a week on from the World Cup final in Bridgetown.

Tendai Chatara and Sikandar Raza starred with the ball, picking three wickets apiece as India collapsed in a hurry much to the delight of a Harare crowd - Harare Sports Club was packed to the rafters.

India handed debuts to Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel and had no hesitation in bowling first after winning the toss. Zimbabwe started well but Ravi Bishnoi with a T20 career-best of 4 for 13 and Washington Sundar (2 for 11) orchestrated a collapse. At the halfway stage, it seemed like an easy enough chase, but the Zimbabwe bowlers had other ideas.

Abhishek fell for a four-ball duck, Ruturaj Gaikwad for 7, Parag's debut lasted three balls and Rinku Singh lasted all of two, as India lost four wickets inside five overs. And when Sikandar Raza cleaned up Shubman Gill for 31, the whole of Harare believed.

India needed 16 off the final over with one wicket in hand but still hoped to get through with Washington still around. Chatara, however, bowled a nerveless 20th, conceding just two runs off four balls and claiming Washington off the fifth to spark wild scenes in Harare. This is the lowest total ever defended against India in a T20I, and the lowest against anyone in Harare. It was Zimbabwe's first against India in any format since 2016.