Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill posted India’s second-highest partnership in T20Is during run-chases on Saturday. This pair of young batters accomplished another position in India’s T20I batting charts during the fourth T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare. In the match, during a run-chase of 152 runs, Jaiswal and Gill smashed Zimbabwe bowlers left and right, securing a 10 wicket win with 28 balls left. They stitched a partnership of 156 runs.
The highest partnership in T20Is during run-chases for India is also held by Gill-Jaiswal, who put on a partnership of 165 runs against West Indies at Lauderhill just last year for the second wicket while chasing 179 runs. (Ready to donate his own pension, Kapil Dev writes to BCCI to help Anshuman Gaekwad)
This is also India’s fifth 150-plus opening stand in T20Is, with the highest being a 165-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul against Sri Lanka at Indore in 2017. This chase is only the fifth instance of a 150-plus run-chase carried out in T20Is successfully without any loss of wicket.
In the match, India won the toss and put Zimbabwe on field first. A fine 63-run opening stand between Wessly Madhevere (25 in 24 balls, with four boundaries) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (32 in 31 balls, with three fours) gave Zimbabwe a steady start. Later, Indian bowlers started to take wickets at a regular rate, but skipper Sikandar Raza held one end steady with his knock of 46 in 28 balls, with two fours and three sixes. Zimbabwe posted 152/7 in their 20 overs. (‘Had 5 Bad Balls, He Hit Them All For Six’: Mitchell Starc Opens Up On Face-Off Against Rohit Sharma During T20 World Cup 2024)
Khaleel Ahmed (2/32) was the pick of the bowlers for India. Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Washington Sundar, and debutant Tushar Deshpande got a wicket each.
During the run chase, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (93* in 53 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes) and skipper Gill (58* in 39 balls, with six fours and two sixes) took India to a big win, with all the 10 wickets and 28 balls in hand. With this win, India has a 3-1 unassailable series lead over Zimbabwe, with a game to go. Jaiswal secured the ‘Player of the Match’ for his superb knock.