India vs Zimbabwe: Abhishek, Parag perish early on debut, India off to disastrous start in chase of 116 in 1st T20I

Explosive Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opening batter Abhishek Sharma got his international career off to an indifferent start with a four-ball duck during the first T20I between India and Zimbabwe in Harare on Monday.

The left-handed top-order batter from Punjab had been included in a second-string Indian squad for the tour of Zimbabwe after his red-hot form in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, with Abhishek collecting 484 runs across the season at an staggering strike rate of 204.22.

LIVE | India vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I in Harare

On Saturday, however, he perished in just his fourth delivery after walking out to open the Indian innings alongside skipper Shubman Gill, holing out to the fielder at deep midwicket as spin-bowling all-rounder Brian Bennett struck in his first over and began the day with a wicket maiden.

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Abhishek, however, wasn’t the only Indian batter to perish early at the Harare Sports Club. Ruturaj Gaikwad nicked a short-of-length ball from Blessing Muzarabani to Innocent Kaia in the slips in the fourth over to depart for 7 off 9 balls. Tendai Chatara would then get rid of Riyan Parag (2) and Rinku Singh (0) in a space of three deliveries in the following over, the former also perishing early on his interantional debut.

Tall pacer Muzarabani nearly had two wickets in as many overs after successfully appealing for leg-before against opposition skipper Gill, who opted for the review straight away and got the on-field umpire’s decision overturned due to excess height.

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India crawled to 28/4 at the end of the powerplay after being set 116 to win by the Zimbabweans, with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel at the centre in Gill’s company.

Earlier, wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi had collected career-best figures of 4/13 to help India restrict Zimbabwe to 115/9 after Gill won the toss and opted to field.