India's inexperienced batting lineup faltered time and again in a paltry chase of 116 in the first T20I at Harare Sports Club, whittling down to 43/5 at the halfway stage. However, the Men in Blue still had their hopes intact largely courtesy of Shubman Gill anchoring one end with conviction, the stand-in Indian skipper having strut past 30 and looking poised to take his team hope. Yet, as has often been the case for the good part of a decade for the hosts, the ever-influential Sikandar Raza emerged as the gamechanger to swing momentum back into the African contingent's favour with a brilliant delivery.
Bringing himself on to bowl for the first time in the match in the 11th over, the off-break bowler jogged in with his typical hand-behind-the-back action to disguise the variations. On the second delivery, Raza delivered a well-hidden carrom ball that caught Gill off-guard even as he charged down the wicket. The Kookaburra landed slightly back of a length and drifted in just enough to sneak past the bat's inside edge and flick the pads before kissing the top of off-stump. Raza was ecstatic at having scalped India's main man and immediately wheeled off in jubilant celebrations while Gill stood his ground for a moment, perplexed upon being outdone by the Zimbabwean's brilliance.
Twitterati's reactions ranged from disappointment directed at Gill to showering praise on the reliable Raza.
Captain to captain and gone!
— Johnson (@Johnson427427)
He was under pressure!
Captain Shubman Gill against mighty Zimbabwe 😍🔥
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy)
Too much to handle there out!
Shubman Gill tried his best to retain his Test opening spot but failed in that process too 💀
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda)
Aram se haar rhi bhai! :(
Bhai maja gaya 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 aaram se jit jate to kitna boring lagta
— Jay Thakkar (@jay_thakkar19)
He should have stayed there for bit more long!
Shubman Gill dismissed for 31 in 29 balls.
— NexusRift 🚩 (@SRKsNexusRift)
LOL!
Shubman gill right now 🥹
— Kuch Bhi!!!! (@KirkutExpert99)
Hilarious tho!
Babar Azam watching IND vs ZIM:
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla)
:|
Shubman Gill out after making 31 in 29 balls.
— Apex Sports (#BA56) (@NewsSports_35)
( 🤣😂🤣)
Choked all from the bottom!
WTH is going on with the India team
— Msfd (@msfd28)
Is this the new era everyone was waiting for?
True that!
Shubman Gill, I appreciate your efforts but could have stayed longer
— FaithfulNature (@cricfan25172679)
India in trouble!a
OMG - Captain dismissed by Captain as India slump to 47-6 chasing 116 against Zimbabwe in the 1st T20I. Hope we don’t lose this 🇮🇳🤞
— Nikhil Ram (@Nikhil_Rams)
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