IND vs ZIM 1st T20I: World Champions India Fall To Zimbabwe in Low-Scoring Thriller

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Tendai Chatara and Sikandar Raza starred as Zimbabwe defeated India by 13 runs in the first match of the five-match T20I series at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Saturday (July 6).

Chasing 116 on the back of their T20 World Cup success, a new-look India led by Shubman Gill were bundled out for 102 by the home side, ending a 12-match winning streak.

Gill (31 off 29 balls) and Washington Sundar (27 off 34 balls) were the only contributors with the bat, while Avesh Khan (16 off 12 balls) was the only other batter to get into double figures as the rest of batting line up failed to show up.

For Zimbabwe, skipper Raza (3 for 25 in 4 overs) and Chatara (3 for 16 in 3.5 overs) were the pick of the bowlers with the remaining bowlers also contributing to the wickets colums.

It all started in the first over when Abhishek Sharma, one of the three debutants for India, fell for a 4-ball duck. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh's stay also did not last long, leaving India at 22/4 in 4.4 overs.

Gill and debutant Dhruv Jurel put on a fight until the latter departed for 6 in 10th over. A few balls later, Raza removed Gill to give Zimbabwe even more hope of pulling off a stunning win.

Ravi Bishnoi, who showed some fight, was also removed by Raza, leaving India at 61/7. However, Sundar and Avesh had kept the visitors in the contest with a 23-run stand before Raza struck again to remove the latter for 16.

Sundar kept India alive in the contest till the end, but fell in the final over as Zimbabwe defended the lowest total in T20Is in Harare.

Earlier, Ravi Bishnoi (4 for 13) and Washington Sundar (2 for 11) bamboozled Zimbabwe batters and restricted the home side to 115/9 in 20 overs. Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan also chipped in with a wicket each.

Gill and Co will get a chance to quickly bounce back and put this result behind as the second T20I takes place just under 24 hours on Sunday (July 7) at the same venue in Harare.