Mukesh Kumar provided India an initial lead in the starting match of the 5-game T20I series in opposition to Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Saturday, July 6. The rapid bowler made an instant impact through removing away Zimbabwe’s opener Innocent Kaia with the first delivery.
The wicket fell in the second over of Zimbabwe’s innings. Mukesh delivered a well-pitched ball that angled in, tempting Kaia into a drive. However, Kaia could only manage an inside edge onto the stumps, which were disturbed.
Mukesh Kumar takes no time to strike 🔥🙌#SonySportsNetwork #ZIMvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/KMIitsZmWd
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 6, 2024
Mukesh Kumar is making his return to T20I cricket after January 2024. The 30-year-old has taken 12 wickets in 14 T20Is with an economy rate of 9.39. Recently, the Delhi Capitals’ fast bowler claimed 17 wickets in 10 matches during IPL 2024.
Mukesh Kumar takes an early wicket as India choose to bowl first in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe
Mukesh Kumar formed an initial breakthrough following India captain Shubman Gill win the toss and elected to bowl first in opposition to Zimbabwe on Saturday. The Men in Blue presented three debutants – Jitesh Sharma, Dhruv Jurel, and Riyan Parag – in the playing XI.
At the toss, Gill stated: “We will field first. I think it looks like a good surface. It won’t change much later. It has been long coming. We won an ICC event after 11 years. You always have some expectations from yourself. We have three debutants. Sharma, Jurel, and Parag make their debuts.”
During the meantime, Zimbabwe has fielded a team including many young players below the leadership of Sikandar Raza. At the time of writing, Zimbabwe were 40-2 after 5.1 overs, with Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere batting. Brian Bennett was the most recent batsman to be dismissed, bowled by Ravi Bishnoi.
Team India joins the match with a sequence of 12 continuous victories in T20Is. A win in the series opener in opposition to Zimbabwe would allow India to exceed Afghanistan’s history of 12 consecutive wins and become the initial full-member team to reach this milestone in T20Is
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