Our Bureau
Harare
India returned to the summit of the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings and won the three-match series against Zimbabwe in Harare by 3-0, marking a swift turnaround following a disappointing tour of the United Kingdom. The reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions displaced England from the top spot after registering commanding victories in the opening two matches of the series.
India thrashed Zimbabwe by 35 runs in the third and final T20I to clean sweep the bilateral series here at Harare Sports Club on Sunday. Chasing a daunting target of 193 runs, the hosts could only make 157/7 in 20 overs as Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer registered his first series win after taking charge of the T20I side last month.
The series-clinching second T20I showcased India’s batting depth and all-round dominance. After an early setback, Ishan Kishan anchored the innings with a brilliant 81 off 44 balls, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on a blistering 60 from 29 deliveries. Shreyas Iyer also played a crucial supporting role in a key partnership that steadied the innings before India posted a daunting 219 for five.
Zimbabwe never recovered in the chase as India’s bowlers dismantled the batting line-up, bundling out the hosts for 129 to complete a comprehensive 90-run victory and secure the series. The convincing performance capped a strong response after India had slipped to second in the rankings following successive T20I series defeats to Ireland and England earlier this month.
India’s resurgence has reaffirmed their status as one of the world’s premier T20 sides, with the team now aiming to complete a clean sweep in the final match of the series while strengthening momentum for upcoming international challenges.
