Sooryavanshi and Mayank Power India to Seven-Wicket Win, End T20I Losing Streak

Record-Breaking Youth, Fiery Fast Bowling Halt India's T20I Slide

Finally, Team India snapped its sorry run in the white-ball format with a 7-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first T20I at Harare Sports Club on Thursday. The comprehensive victory also turned out to be the first win at the helm of the national T20 side for captain Shreyas Iyer, bringing an end to a tough run from the recent tours.

The first ball of the match set the tone for the match when the express pacer Mayank Yadav squared up the opening batter with a sharp-length delivery to draw first blood. India’s new-look attack tore through Zimbabwe’s top order to keep the hosts to a paltry 125/7 in their 20 overs, with fellow pacer Prince Yadav chipping in with a disciplined and fiery spell.

History written by prodigy of age 15

India chased down a modest target of 126 without breaking a sweat. 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, coming in for the senior options who were rested, tore apart the bowling attack with a breathtaking display of fearless strokeplay.

Sooryavanshi rewrote the record books and became the youngest player in men’s international cricket to score an international fifty, racing to a landmark half-century off just 18 balls. The teenage prodigy slammed four boundaries and as many towering sixes to virtually seal the match in the powerplay before falling for 50 off 19 deliveries.

Ishan Kishan (35 off 24) and Shreyas Iyer (28 not out) provided good knocks for India to start the three-match series on a winning note. The hosts crossed the line comfortably with 40 balls to spare.