Following Zimbabwe’s 23-run defeat against India in the third T20I match on Wednesday, skipper Sikandar Raza pointed out that conceding 20 extra runs in the first innings was a critical factor in their loss. Despite his own impressive performance with the ball, where he picked up two wickets for 24 runs in his four-over spell, Raza acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in fielding and top-order batting.
Fielding Woes and Top-Order Struggles
“I think it’s the fielding again. We are proud of our fielding, but the wheels came off today. We gave away 20 extra runs and we lost by 23 runs,” Raza said. “We still have problems at the top, but I have utmost faith in them that they will come good sometime. We have tried 15 different partners (openers) in the last year and a half or so.”
Call for Senior Players to Step Up
Raza emphasized the importance of senior players taking responsibility and minimizing mistakes, highlighting the role of experienced players in setting a standard for the team. “There is a lot of cricket going on in the country and club cricket has revived. It’s time that our players, including myself, take up the responsibility. The youngsters making mistakes is acceptable, but the senior players need to step up. You cannot fix a problem by creating another problem; we have picked three openers for a reason,” he added.
Match Recap
India opted to bat first and posted a strong total of 182/4 in their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a fine 67-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 off 27 balls) and skipper Shubman Gill (66 off 49 balls), followed by a 72-run stand between Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad (49 off 28 balls). Blessing Muzarabani (2/25) and Sikandar Raza (2/24) were the standout bowlers for Zimbabwe.
In response, Zimbabwe struggled initially, finding themselves at 39/5. A resilient 77-run partnership between Dion Myers (65* off 49 balls) and Clive Madande (37 off 26 balls) revived their innings, but Indian bowlers, led by Washington Sundar (3/15) and Avesh Khan (2/39), ensured Zimbabwe fell short, finishing at 159/6.
Looking Ahead
Raza expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back in the remaining matches of the series. “The openers that have been picked up should be given a run. (On Muzarabani) He has been outstanding; sometimes the rewards don’t come, but in the long run, the rewards do come,” he said.
The final two T20Is will be played on Saturday and Sunday, providing Zimbabwe with opportunities to rectify their mistakes and level the series.
