ZIM vs IND, 2nd T20I | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview, Live Streaming

Sikandar Raza and Shubman Gill with the T20I series trophy (x.com)

Team India will lock horns with hosts Zimbabwe in the second T20I of their five-match series at the Harare Sports Club on July 7. Under the leadership of all-rounder Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe took a 1-0 lead in the series after winning the opening match by 13 runs.

ZIM vs IND 2nd T20I: Team Previews

Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe cricket team, having failed to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies, stunned World Champions India in the first T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. 

Captain and all-rounder Sikandar Raza led from the front, scoring 17 vital runs before taking three key Indian wickets later in the run-chase. Fast bowler Tendai Chatara also came up clutch with the ball by dismissing Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar during his four-over spell in the series opener.

As evidenced by Zimbabwe’s recent performance, captain Sikandar Raza continues to remain their biggest asset with both bat and ball. 

Apart from the all-rounder, the Zimbabwe team also features talented top-order batters Wessly Madhevere and Brian Bennett, considering the two cricketers punched out valuable 20s against a star-studded Indian bowling attack. 

Wicketkeeper Clive Madande will also start out as one of the batters to watch out for from the hosts set-up.

Among the bowlers, Blessing Muzarabani can cause much trouble alongside in-form Tendai Chatara and ace spinner Sikandar Raza.

India

While the Indian team recently won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies, the ‘Men in Blue’ fielded with three debutants in the first T20I of the series against Zimbabwe. Only a handful of India’s T20 World Cup winning players toured Zimbabwe for the series, including all-rounder Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson and reserved-cricketer Rinku Singh.

Each of the three debutants failed to make an impact in the match, with opener Abhishek Sharma falling for a duck while middle-order batters Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel failing to make double-digit scores. Apart from spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar, India’s bowling department also failed to contain Zimbabwe on a seemingly bowling-friendly surface.

Despite India’s crashing defeat, the team management will likely continue with an unchanged XI in a bid to give the youngsters another opportunity.

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ZIM vs IND 2nd T20I: Match Details & Live Streaming 

ZIM vs IND 2nd T20I: Harare Sports Club Pitch Report

While the playing surface at the Harare Sports Club was initially considered to a batting-friendly one, the first T20I of the series played here turned out to be a low-scoring affair between Zimbabwe and India. 

Spinners dictated much terms during the middle overs from both nations, and the trend will be expected to continue for the all-important second T20I match. 

Despite Zimbabwe winning the first match after batting first, the overall track record of the venue might prompt the captain winning the toss to have a field first.

ZIM vs IND 2nd T20I: Probable Playing XIs

Zimbabwe: Wessly Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara.

India: Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed.

ZIM vs IND 2nd T20I: Fantoss Fantasy Tips 

ZIM vs IND 2nd T20I: Winner Prediction

Team India will be considered as favourites to bounce back and level the five-match series in the impending second T20I against Zimbabwe.

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