India secured a commanding 90-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second Twenty20 International (T20I) match on Saturday, July 25, extending their lead to 2-0 in the three-match series held in Harare. Batting first, India posted a formidable total of 219 for 5, propelled by a fluent 81-run innings from Ishan Kishan, who faced 44 balls and struck nine fours and two sixes. Tilak Varma supported with an unbeaten 60 off 29 deliveries, featuring three sixes, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a rapid 20 before his dismissal.
After electing to bat, Sooryavanshi initiated India’s innings with aggressive stroke play, hitting three fours and a six during the powerplay. However, Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani struck early, dismissing Abhishek Sharma for a second consecutive match and then catching Sooryavanshi off Richard Ngarava, reducing India to 29 for 2. Kishan steadied the innings with captain Shreyas Iyer, contributing 25 runs before being caught at backward point off Brian Bennett. The partnership between Kishan and Varma proved decisive, adding 94 runs for the fourth wicket, with Kishan reaching his 13th T20 half-century off 31 balls and Varma registering his fifty from 23 balls.
Kishan was dismissed in the 18th over, but Varma maintained momentum, guiding India past the 200-run milestone. Zimbabwe’s response faltered, as the team was bowled out for 129 runs in 17.5 overs. Brian Bennett top-scored for Zimbabwe with 32 off 19 balls, including three fours and three sixes, but lacked substantial support from his teammates. Indian bowlers Yash Thakur, making his debut, claimed 2 wickets for 30 runs. Abhishek Sharma returned figures of 3 wickets for 17 runs, and Prince Yadav took 2 wickets for 10 runs in just over an over before leaving the field with a hamstring injury.
India had secured the first T20I match of the series on July 23 by seven wickets, setting the stage for a competitive final game on Sunday at the same venue in Harare.