After the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, all-rounder Shivam Dube, and batter Yashasvi Jaiswal were inducted into the ‘Men in Blue’ squad for the remaining games of the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. India won the prestigious T20 World Cup trophy for the second time with a seven-run victory over South Africa in Barbados.
BCCI posted a video of Samson, Dube and Jaiswal hitting in the nets after joining the Team India squad for the tour of Zimbabwe. “#T20WorldCup-winning trio is in the house. and they are Raring To Go”, BCCI posted on X.
In the five-match 20-over series, India lost the opening game but fought back in the second game. Team India skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bat first.
India posted a formidable total of 234/2 in 20 overs, thanks to Abhishek Sharma’s blazing century — 100 runs off 47 balls with seven fours and eight sixes — and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten 77 runs off 47 balls with 11 fours and one six. Rinku Singh joined the act with the bat, too, as the left-hander churned out a quickfire 48 runs off just 22 balls — five sixes and two fours at a strike rate of 218.18. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarbani and Wellington Masakadza took one wicket each.
Chasing 235 runs to win, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 134 in 18.4 overs. Opener Wessly Madhevere was top scorer with 43 runs from 39 balls, with three fours and a six. All-rounder Luke Jongwe scored 33 runs from 26 balls with four boundaries.
For India, the outstanding bowlers were the right-arm seamers Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar, who returned with three wickets apiece for 15 and 37 runs respectively. Two wickets fell to Ravi Bishnoi, and one in his to Washington Sundar.
The three-T20I series is now level 1-1, with India playing the third at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.