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  2026-07-24 07:32:00

Captain Shreyas Iyer expressed satisfaction and relief after guiding India to a commanding 7-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first T20I at the Harare Sports Club. The win ended a six-match winless streak in T20Is and marked Iyer’s first victory as India’s T20I captain following previous tours of Ireland and England.

Electing to field first after winning the toss, India restricted Zimbabwe to 125/7 in their 20 overs. India comfortably chased down the target in 13.2 overs with 40 balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Mayank Yadav’s Return: Returning to international cricket after 1.5 years, pacer Mayank Yadav took a wicket off his very first ball, finishing with figures of 2/18 in 4 overs.

Prince Yadav’s Impact: Medium-pacer Prince Yadav supported the attack effectively, taking 2/19 in his 4 overs.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Record Knock: The 15-year-old opening batter scored a half-century in 18 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes.

Middle-Order Support: Ishan Kishan scored 35 off 24 balls, while skipper Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 28 off 24 balls to complete the chase alongside Tilak Varma.

Shreyas Iyer Celebrates First T20I Win as Captain

Reflecting on the team’s all-round performance at the post-match presentation, Shreyas Iyer commended his team for executing their plans under pressure.

Iyer Praises “Fearless” Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Speaking on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s high-tempo knock at the top of the order, Iyer lauded the youngster’s temperament and aggressive approach against the Zimbabwean attack.

Highlighting Sooryavanshi’s previous experience at the Harare Sports Club during his Under-19 career—where he registered a score of 175 runs—Iyer noted that familiarity with local pitch conditions contributed to the youngster’s confidence on the field.