In Harare, youngster Abhishek Sharma announced his arrival on the big stage with a stunning 46-ball century as India hammered Zimbabwe by a whopping 100 runs in the second T20I to restore parity in emphatic fashion here on Sunday.
This is India's biggest margin of victory in terms of runs against Zimbabwe in T20Is.
The young Indian team did not carry the baggage of a shocking 13-run defeat in the series opener, when left-handed opener Abhishek combined power with grace for a brilliant 100-run knock that propelled India to a massive 234 for two. on a track where hitting was not exactly easy.
The demand was already tough and the Indian bowlers made breakthroughs at regular intervals to bowl out Zimbabwe for 134 in 18.4 overs to set the record straight.
Pacers Mukesh Kumar (3/37) and Avesh Khan (3/15) wiped out the top order within the Powerplay to end the contest, which became a formality after that.
The day certainly belonged to Abhishek, who blended equal parts grace and power in an innings, adorned with eight sixes and seven fours.
He made a normally classy Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 not out off 47 balls) look pale in comparison during his 137-run stand for the second wicket.
His innings would also add to the headache for captain Shubman Gill and stand-in coach VVS Laxman, who would have to make a tough decision when Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes available from the third game.
After his century, there is no way the Sunrisers Hyderabad opener can be dropped from the playing XI.
Having endured the disappointment of a four-ball duck on debut, Abhishek never looked under pressure on a track that his senior partner and current CSK partner Gaikwad found "difficult to feel prepared for".
The hallmark of his innings was bravery as he took calculated risks that paid off and allowed Gaikwad, at the other end, to get into the rhythm after playing and failing for most of his innings.
Abhishek got a reprieve on 27 when Wellington Masakadza bowled a regulation skier off Luke Jongwe. After that, he never looked back.
Having started his international career account with six-spinner Brian Bennett, who surpassed him on Saturday.
His fifty came from another, six behind medium pacer Dion Myers, whose run of 28 actually opened the floodgates over the last 10 for the visitors.
The most eye-pleasing shot was his inside-out six against rival captain Sikandar Raza, elevating his counter-attack with the turn over the extra cover boundary.
If that was elegance personified, the way he propelled left-arm spinner Masakadza into orbit with consecutive sixes was a testament to his raw power.
He brought up his milestone hundred when he guided a wayward full delivery over the stump behind square to a maximum before being dismissed on the next delivery.
Upon returning to the dugout, he was congratulated by his captain and best friend, Shubman Gill, who once again had an indifferent exit.
The poor fielding effort also hurt Zimbabwe as they also dropped the catch of Gaikwad, who took off from where Abhishek had left off, making 87 runs off 36 balls for the third wicket with Rinku Singh (48 not out off 22 balls), who also had fun. with five huge sixes.
The total was India's highest against Zimbabwe in T20 Internationals, surpassing the previous record of 186, a fitting comeback after an inexplicable batting collapse in the opening game.
The Indian pacers despite No. 3 Bennett's use of long handle (26 off 9 balls) hit the target as Mukesh cleaned up two batsmen with slightly set back cutters.
Avesh's nasty snort was something opposing captain Sikander Raza least expected as he tried to defend himself from a hit to the helmet.
Once Ravi Bishnoi (2/11 in 4 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/28 in 4 overs) came into operation, the Zimbabwe batsmen could not hit them.
The difference certainly was the additional bounce generated by Washington and the rate at which Bishnoi consistently bowled googlies off him.
With the series tied 1-1, Sanju Samson is expected to replace Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps, Shivam Dube with his all-round skills will come in place of Sai Sudharsan and Riyan Parag might have to sacrifice his place for Jaiswal in the match scheduled for on July 10.
This is India's biggest margin of victory in terms of runs against Zimbabwe in T20Is.
The young Indian team did not carry the baggage of a shocking 13-run defeat in the series opener, when left-handed opener Abhishek combined power with grace for a brilliant 100-run knock that propelled India to a massive 234 for two. on a track where hitting was not exactly easy.
The demand was already tough and the Indian bowlers made breakthroughs at regular intervals to bowl out Zimbabwe for 134 in 18.4 overs to set the record straight.
Pacers Mukesh Kumar (3/37) and Avesh Khan (3/15) wiped out the top order within the Powerplay to end the contest, which became a formality after that.
The day certainly belonged to Abhishek, who blended equal parts grace and power in an innings, adorned with eight sixes and seven fours.
He made a normally classy Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 not out off 47 balls) look pale in comparison during his 137-run stand for the second wicket.
His innings would also add to the headache for captain Shubman Gill and stand-in coach VVS Laxman, who would have to make a tough decision when Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes available from the third game.
After his century, there is no way the Sunrisers Hyderabad opener can be dropped from the playing XI.
Having endured the disappointment of a four-ball duck on debut, Abhishek never looked under pressure on a track that his senior partner and current CSK partner Gaikwad found "difficult to feel prepared for".
The hallmark of his innings was bravery as he took calculated risks that paid off and allowed Gaikwad, at the other end, to get into the rhythm after playing and failing for most of his innings.
Abhishek got a reprieve on 27 when Wellington Masakadza bowled a regulation skier off Luke Jongwe. After that, he never looked back.
Having started his international career account with six-spinner Brian Bennett, who surpassed him on Saturday.
His fifty came from another, six behind medium pacer Dion Myers, whose run of 28 actually opened the floodgates over the last 10 for the visitors.
The most eye-pleasing shot was his inside-out six against rival captain Sikandar Raza, elevating his counter-attack with the turn over the extra cover boundary.
If that was elegance personified, the way he propelled left-arm spinner Masakadza into orbit with consecutive sixes was a testament to his raw power.
He brought up his milestone hundred when he guided a wayward full delivery over the stump behind square to a maximum before being dismissed on the next delivery.
Upon returning to the dugout, he was congratulated by his captain and best friend, Shubman Gill, who once again had an indifferent exit.
The poor fielding effort also hurt Zimbabwe as they also dropped the catch of Gaikwad, who took off from where Abhishek had left off, making 87 runs off 36 balls for the third wicket with Rinku Singh (48 not out off 22 balls), who also had fun. with five huge sixes.
The total was India's highest against Zimbabwe in T20 Internationals, surpassing the previous record of 186, a fitting comeback after an inexplicable batting collapse in the opening game.
The Indian pacers despite No. 3 Bennett's use of long handle (26 off 9 balls) hit the target as Mukesh cleaned up two batsmen with slightly set back cutters.
Avesh's nasty snort was something opposing captain Sikander Raza least expected as he tried to defend himself from a hit to the helmet.
Once Ravi Bishnoi (2/11 in 4 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/28 in 4 overs) came into operation, the Zimbabwe batsmen could not hit them.
The difference certainly was the additional bounce generated by Washington and the rate at which Bishnoi consistently bowled googlies off him.
With the series tied 1-1, Sanju Samson is expected to replace Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps, Shivam Dube with his all-round skills will come in place of Sai Sudharsan and Riyan Parag might have to sacrifice his place for Jaiswal in the match scheduled for on July 10.
