New Delhi, having hurt Shubman Gill-led India badly in the opening T20I in Harare, Zimbabwe spinner Wellington Masakadza said the tourists should take the home team lightly at their own risk, adding that They will exploit the local conditions to the maximum to win the five-match series.
A new-look Indian team suffered a 13-run defeat to an inexperienced but energetic Zimbabwe team in an upset of massive proportions.
India, who were recently crowned T20 World Cup champions, albeit with a different set of players, were expected to overcome Zimbabwe's challenge as they restricted the home team to 115 for nine.
But Zimbabwe wrote their own script, reducing India to 28 for four in the Powerplay and then finally bowling them out for 102 in 19.5 overs.
It was India's first T20I defeat in 2024 and first against Zimbabwe in eight years.
Masakadza, who finished with figures of 1/15 in three overs, said: "We are trying to use our own conditions as much as we can against this Indian team. They are a second-string Indian team but there are a lot of good things." players there, so we are looking forward to watching this series," Masakadza said in an interview with ideos provided by broadcaster Sony Sports Network.
"We had some plans in place. We needed them to work and obviously we are trying to use our own conditions as much as we can against this Indian side."
Masakadza, who dismissed finalist Avesh Khan on Saturday, said he was now looking at captain Shubman Gill's wicket.
“I will look to take the big wicket of Shubman Gill and some of the right-handers, (Riyan) Parag and some of the other guys in the side.
"It will be a very good challenge. They (Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar) are very good spinners. Bishnoi has just had a very good tournament in the IPL and so has Sundar. So it is always a very good challenge to have Asian spinners."
With Harare enjoying a winter season as it is in the southern hemisphere, the left-arm spinner said the home team's pacers, due to their familiarity with the pitch, are likely to cause problems for the Indian batsmen.
"It is winter here and sometimes it is a bit difficult for the batsmen because the pitch is slow and has a bit of spin. The seam is always a big challenge in Harare during the winter. So I think the ball will move a bit and also will spin,” said Masakadza, a veteran of 90 T20Is.
He added that a series win would be a boost for Zimbabwe cricket, which has been in decline for several years.
"This series will mean a lot to us. If we manage to win the series, it will be something very important in our future."
"We are starting a new chapter, we have had our ups and downs in the past. We just had a new coaching staff. So I think from now on, this is a very important thing for us and we will be looking forward to making some plans to cross the line," said the 30-year-old who, like his captain Sikandar Raza, wants to play in the IPL.
Pakistan-born Raza played for the Punjab Kings this IPL season, scoring 43 runs in two games. On Saturday, he was declared 'Man of the Match' for taking three wickets and scoring 17 runs.
"It's definitely always good to go out and play in those leagues. I'll look to take some wickets in this series. That can be good for me to get a job (IPl contract)."
A new-look Indian team suffered a 13-run defeat to an inexperienced but energetic Zimbabwe team in an upset of massive proportions.
India, who were recently crowned T20 World Cup champions, albeit with a different set of players, were expected to overcome Zimbabwe's challenge as they restricted the home team to 115 for nine.
But Zimbabwe wrote their own script, reducing India to 28 for four in the Powerplay and then finally bowling them out for 102 in 19.5 overs.
It was India's first T20I defeat in 2024 and first against Zimbabwe in eight years.
Masakadza, who finished with figures of 1/15 in three overs, said: "We are trying to use our own conditions as much as we can against this Indian team. They are a second-string Indian team but there are a lot of good things." players there, so we are looking forward to watching this series," Masakadza said in an interview with ideos provided by broadcaster Sony Sports Network.
"We had some plans in place. We needed them to work and obviously we are trying to use our own conditions as much as we can against this Indian side."
Masakadza, who dismissed finalist Avesh Khan on Saturday, said he was now looking at captain Shubman Gill's wicket.
“I will look to take the big wicket of Shubman Gill and some of the right-handers, (Riyan) Parag and some of the other guys in the side.
"It will be a very good challenge. They (Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar) are very good spinners. Bishnoi has just had a very good tournament in the IPL and so has Sundar. So it is always a very good challenge to have Asian spinners."
With Harare enjoying a winter season as it is in the southern hemisphere, the left-arm spinner said the home team's pacers, due to their familiarity with the pitch, are likely to cause problems for the Indian batsmen.
"It is winter here and sometimes it is a bit difficult for the batsmen because the pitch is slow and has a bit of spin. The seam is always a big challenge in Harare during the winter. So I think the ball will move a bit and also will spin,” said Masakadza, a veteran of 90 T20Is.
He added that a series win would be a boost for Zimbabwe cricket, which has been in decline for several years.
"This series will mean a lot to us. If we manage to win the series, it will be something very important in our future."
"We are starting a new chapter, we have had our ups and downs in the past. We just had a new coaching staff. So I think from now on, this is a very important thing for us and we will be looking forward to making some plans to cross the line," said the 30-year-old who, like his captain Sikandar Raza, wants to play in the IPL.
Pakistan-born Raza played for the Punjab Kings this IPL season, scoring 43 runs in two games. On Saturday, he was declared 'Man of the Match' for taking three wickets and scoring 17 runs.
"It's definitely always good to go out and play in those leagues. I'll look to take some wickets in this series. That can be good for me to get a job (IPl contract)."
