India v Zimbabwe, 2015
Wisden's review of the second Twenty20 International, India v Zimbabwe, 2015
15-Apr-2016
Zimbabwe won by ten runs. ‡Zimbabwe 145-7 (20 overs) (C. J. Chibhabha 67); India 135-9 (20 overs) (R. V. Uthappa 42; A. G. Cremer 3-18). MoM: C. J. Chibhabha. MoS: C. J. Chibhabha. T20I debut: S. V. Samson (India).
Sikandar Raza was handed the captaincy at short notice after an injury to Chigumbura, and injected some much-needed energy into Zimbabwe's cricket, leading them to their first Twenty20 international win in Harare. It was also their first over India in any format since twice humbling them in a home tri-series in 2010. Helped by the absence of Harbhajan Singh, who made way for the debutant Sanju Samson, Chibhabha hit a career-best 67 from 51 balls in an underwhelming total, and Cremer's excellent first spell of 3-0-14-2 suffocated India's middle order. But there was no doubting their inspiration: Sikandar geed up his team and convinced them they could defend a small total. A string of sublime catches and unlikely run-outs followed, Zimbabwe's enthusiasm building with each one. India wilted, tumbling from 57-1 to 69-5 in the space of three overs. Sikandar took no credit, and made no claim on the captaincy, but the identity of Zimbabwe's best leader was now clear.
Sikandar Raza was handed the captaincy at short notice after an injury to Chigumbura, and injected some much-needed energy into Zimbabwe's cricket, leading them to their first Twenty20 international win in Harare. It was also their first over India in any format since twice humbling them in a home tri-series in 2010. Helped by the absence of Harbhajan Singh, who made way for the debutant Sanju Samson, Chibhabha hit a career-best 67 from 51 balls in an underwhelming total, and Cremer's excellent first spell of 3-0-14-2 suffocated India's middle order. But there was no doubting their inspiration: Sikandar geed up his team and convinced them they could defend a small total. A string of sublime catches and unlikely run-outs followed, Zimbabwe's enthusiasm building with each one. India wilted, tumbling from 57-1 to 69-5 in the space of three overs. Sikandar took no credit, and made no claim on the captaincy, but the identity of Zimbabwe's best leader was now clear.