Team India showcased their dominance in the third T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare, securing a 23-run victory to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The match was marked by impressive performances from skipper Shubman Gill and bowler Washington Sundar, along with a prophetic prediction from teammate Riyan Parag.
Shubman Gill’s Explosive Start
After electing to bat first, India’s innings got off to a flying start. Shubman Gill led the charge with an explosive 66 off 49 balls, supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s quick 36. Despite a minor setback with the loss of Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s crucial 49 off 28 balls and a cameo from Sanju Samson propelled India to a formidable total of 182/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
Washington Sundar’s Game-Changing Spell
Zimbabwe’s chase began disastrously, losing their top three batters for just 19 runs. Washington Sundar then stepped into the spotlight, delivering a game-changing bowling spell. The all-rounder revealed an intriguing detail about Johnathan Campbell’s dismissal, crediting Riyan Parag for his foresight.
“Just before the ball, Riyan Parag told me that it would be great if he could get a catch because he had come in as a substitute. It was great for me to execute in that vein,” Sundar shared during the post-match interview.
Key Dismissals and Tactical Bowling
Sundar’s strategic approach proved effective against Zimbabwe’s key players. His first wicket was that of Sikandar Raza, who he anticipated would attempt a big hit from the first ball.
“The first wicket was Sikandar Raza. I knew he was going to go big right from the first ball, and I am glad to have gotten him out. Even the last one, I really wanted to take it wide because I knew he was going to look big on the on-side,” Sundar explained.
Match-Winning Figures and Player of the Match Award
Sundar’s final figures of 3/15 in four overs were instrumental in restricting Zimbabwe to 159/6, despite a resilient partnership between Dion Myers (65* off 49) and Clive Madande (37 off 26). His exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Sundar’s Gratitude and Optimism
Reflecting on his journey and the opportunity to represent India, Sundar expressed his gratitude and optimism for the remaining games in the series.
“Definitely very happy. First of all, to be playing for the country in every single game and getting to perform like this itself is a huge blessing for me. Obviously, I have been preparing in my own terms though I wasn’t playing a lot of games, and I believed for a fact that it would pay off whenever it had to and it’s been good so far in this series. I believe that I would play. There are only a couple of spinners in the squad. So I think me and (Ravi) Bishnoi would continue playing,” Sundar concluded.
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