IND vs ZIM: The five-match T20 series between India and Zimbabwe is evenly poised, with both teams winning one game each. Zimbabwe stunned India in the first game, and the visitors thumped the hosts in the second. Now the third match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday (July 10) at 4:30 PM at Harare Sports Club. India have the momentum and will look to win it.
But they can’t write off Zimbabwe, who beat them in the first match. India will be strengthened with the return of Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shivam Dube. But where they will fit these players will be a question. But apart from these players, there will be some key battles between both sides which will be worth watching. Hence, here we will talk about the three key player battles in the third IND vs ZIM clash.
3 Key Battles to Watch Out for in IND vs ZIM 3rd T20
1. Shubman Gill vs Blessing Muzarabani
The Indian captain has been short of runs and is struggling at the moment. So he will look to get some runs in the third IND vs ZIM game. The competition for an opener is very tough, and others are performing, so Gill needs to score some runs. But he will be up against Zimbabwe’s best pacer, Blessings Muzarabani. The tall pacer dismissed Gill in the last game as well, and it is not easy to hit him. He bowls at a tight line and gets the bounce. So this will be an important battle.
2. Abhishek Sharma vs Brain Bennett
Abhishek Sharma was on fire in the second IND vs ZIM clash. He smashed a 46-ball ton and announced himself on the biggest stage. He showed everyone that what he was doing in the IPL, he would do similar at the international level as well. That’s how he will approach the third IND vs ZIM game, so for Zimbabwe, they need to dismiss him. That’s where all-rounder Brain Bennett can come in handy. He dismissed Abhishek in the first game and created a chance in the second as well. Interestingly, when Bennett bats, Abhishek is likely to bowl to him. So we will see this battle in both innings.
3. Sikandar Raza vs Avesh Khan
Sikandar Raza is the most important player for Zimbabwe. The captain has immense experience and knows how to score runs against big teams. That’s where his stay at the crease is very important for the hosts. He is good against spinners, but Avesh Khan has troubled him in this series. The Indian pacer has dismissed him twice in two matches and will be looking to do it for the third time in the coming IND vs ZIM clash. So Raza will look to take him on.
Also Read: 3 Changes India should make to Playing XI for 3rd T20 after Jaiswal and Samson joined the team