Shreyas Iyer’s first assignment as India’s T20I captain had begun with setbacks in Ireland and England. In Zimbabwe, however, he found the turnaround he was looking for, leading India to a 3-0 sweep after a 35-run win in the final game in Harare.
The foundation to Sunday’s win was laid by the top order. A 75-run second-wicket stand between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan helped India reach 192/5, with the two left-handers combining aggression and composure against a disciplined Zimbabwe attack.
After Abhishek Sharma’s lean run continued with another low score, India needed a partnership that could restore momentum without allowing Zimbabwe to build pressure. They got exactly that from Sooryavanshi and Kishan, who brought contrasting styles to the same result.
Sooryavanshi continued to showcase the power game that has made him one of India’s most exciting young batters, but there was greater control to his aggression. He did not wait for loose deliveries, attacking from the outset. A lofted punch-drive off Sikandar Raza, a pull off Blessing Muzarabani over long leg and a strike over deep midwicket against Wellington Masakadza showed his ability to clear the boundary.