New Delhi: Team India defeated Zimbabwe by 23 runs in the third T20I at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on July 10, Wednesday. Captain Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad made crucial contributions with the bat for the Men in Blue.
Shubman Gill scored 66 runs off 49 balls, his remarkable knock was laced with seven boundaries and three sixes. Gaikwad also scored 49 runs off 28 balls with the help of four boundaries and three sixes.
After the match, Gaikwad posted an Instagram story with a picture of his T20I cap for India. He was the 88th player for Team India to play in the shortest format. The CSK skipper connected his cap number with MS Dhoni and his post went viral on social media.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Instagram story. (Photo-Instagram)
The former CSK skipper holds a special place in Gaikwad’s life as the 27-year-old made his IPL debut under Dhoni’s captaincy in 2020. The opening batter played a key role in 2021 and 2023 and helped The Yellow Army to win two IPL titles.
Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy ahead of the IPL 2024 and appointed Gaikwad as the skipper of the five-time IPL winning team. In his leadership, CSK finished fifth in the points table and missed the playoffs spot by a margin.
Gaikwad also led Team India to a Gold Medal in the Asian Games and has a good record as captain so far. He is the leading run-getter in the ongoing India vs Zimbabwe T20I series, scoring 133 runs in three matches.
India beat Zimbabwe
The Men in Blue defeated Zimbabwe in the third T20I and took a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series. Shubman Gill and Co. posted 182 runs in the 20 overs after opting to bat first. Skipper Gill and Gaikwad made important contributions with the bat.
Chasing the target of 183, Dion Myers scored 65 runs off 49 balls with the help of seven boundaries and one maximum but other Zimbabwe batters failed to contribute to the run-chase. Washington Sundar took three wickets and Avesh Khan picked up two wickets.
Ruturaj Gaikwad posted a story on social media and joined the ‘Thala for a reason trend’. Gaikwad played an important role for India in the second and third T20I. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
