IND Vs ZIM Highlights, 1st T20I: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines As India Dismantle Hosts By 7 Wickets

Zimbabwe Squad: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani(w), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza(c), Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Richard Ngarava, Tanaka Chivanga, Blessing Muzarabani, Ben Curran, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Newman Nyamhuri

India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer(c), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi

• Total matches: 14

• India won: 11

• Zimbabwe won: 3

• Tie: 0

• No Result: 0

Abhishek Sharma has nine ducks in T20s in 2026, the joint-most in a single calendar year alongside Rashid Khan (2019) and Shadab Khan (2024)

India have won the toss and have opted to field.

India: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav

What a way to open the series! Mayank Yadav storms his way and dismisses Brian Bennett on the very first delivery of the match to get India going.

What a comeback from the pacer! Mayank Yadav has two wickets in no time as Zimbabwe languish at 21/3 inside the powerplay. Superb bowling this from the lanky bowler, who was a big miss in England.

Crisis deepens for Zimbabwe as they lose their fourth wicket in the form of skipper Sikander Raza. It was a loose shorts delivery as Raza smashed it nicely but couldn't place the ball in gap and the deep square leg fielder takes a simple catch.

ZIM 40/4 (9)

After a collapse from the top-order, Ryan Burl (26*) and Wessle Madhevere (8*) have stitched a small 32-run partnership for the 5th wicket to stabilize the situation for Zimbabwe. Both batters have adopted a cautious approach, taking less risks and focused on not losing more wickets at this point against a sharp Indian bowling.

ZIM 64/4 (13)

Zimbabwe end their innings at 123/9 in their quota of 20 overs. At one stage, they were reeling at 64/5 in 13 overs but a 58-run stand between Wessle Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani, took them to a fighting 125/7, from where their bowlers will atleast have something to fight against a strong Indian batting line-up.

ZIM 125/7 (20)

A quiet first over by Blessing Muzarabani to Abhishek Sharma is followed by a Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rampage in the second one. A six followed by a four and then another six to take 20 runs from the second over and get India's momentum going.

IND 22/0 (2)

India lose their first wicket in the form of Abhishek Sharma, who never looked comfortable on the crease and eventually fell off Brad Evans at the score of 1 off 8 balls. However, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his merry ways and has reached closer to his half-century in no time.

IND 52/1 (5)

The wonder boy of Indian cricket, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi departs after smashing his first international fifty that too in just 18 balls. He slammed four boundaries and equal number of sixes during his innings. However, just after his half-century, Sooryavanshi falls to Richard Ngarva.

IND 73/2 (7)

Despite the wicket of swashbuckling, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after scoring a blistering 50, the duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer has kept the scoreboard going. Both the batters have forged a 44-run stand for the 3rd wicket, taking India on the verge of victory.

IND 112/2 (11)

Blessing Muzarabani gets Ishan Kishan at 35 but it's too little too late as India win the match in a dominating manner by 7 wickets with 40 balls to spare. Skipper Shreyas Iyer remains not out at 28, while Tilak Varma finished the game with a single, to get India 1-0 ahead in the series.

IND 126/3 (13.2)

That's a wrap! That's a wrap from our end, we'll be back soon with another blog, until then, bye bye.