Page 48 - The Indian EYE 071924

SPORTS JULY 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 48

INDIA IN ZIMBABWE

Young guns show hunger & fire in

post-Virat & Rohit phase for Men in Blue

India’s fielding coach for the series hailed each player for the contribution that they

made during the series. While talking about the importance of catches, the coach announced Rinku Singh
as the winner of the ‘Fielder of the Series’ award

OUR BUREAU
Harare (Zimbabwe)
ndia has won the T20I series against Zimbabwe
4-1. Following his side’s 42-run win against Zim-
Ibabwe in the fifth T20I, Indian skipper Shub-
man Gill lauded the team for showing immense
hunger after a shocking loss in the first game. A fine
four-wicket spell by Mukesh Kumar and a half-cen-
tury by Sanju Samson were the highlights as India
defeated Zimbabwe by 42 runs in the fifth and final
T20I at Harare to secure the series on Sunday.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Gill
said, “Excellent series. I think the hunger that we
showed after losing the first match was fantastic to
watch. When we came here, not everyone had a lot
of hits in the nets. We were not used to the condi-
tions. The way we adapted (was great).”
VVS Laxman, who served as India’s head coach
for the five-match series T20I against Zimbabwe,
honoured star finisher Rinku Singh with the ‘Field-
er of the Series’ award following their 4-1 triumph.
India began the post-Virat Kohli and Rohit
Sharma T20I era by capping off the series with an
imposing 42-run win in the fifth match on Sunday.
Even without the presence of the stalwart duo, the
tradition of handing the ‘Fielder of the Series’ con-
tinued in the new era.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) posted a video of the ceremony on X, with
Subhadeep Ghosh announcing the winner of the India’s Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad celebrate their partnership during the second T20I match against Zimbabwe, at
medal. Before the ceremony, he showed a video
message from former India fielding coach T Dilip, Harare Sports Club in Harare on Sunday (ANI)
who emphasised the importance of fielding.
Ghosh, who served as India’s fielding coach for Ghosh called Laxman to present the medal to spell in the second inning of the match.
the series, hailed each player for the contribution Rinku for the efforts that he made throughout the Speaking after the match, Dube said that he
that they made during the series. While talking about series that saw him complete six catches. was happy to take wickets in the second inning of
the importance of catches, Ghosh announced Rinku India’s next tour will be against Sri Lanka, the fifth T20I match against Zimbabwe. He also
as the winner of the ‘Fielder of the Series’ award. marking the first assignment of new head coach pointed out that the ground n Harare was big and
“Another good day in fielding. I think it was a Gautam Gambhir. The tour will begin with a three- the Men in Blue enjoyed playing there.
terrific effort from each and every one. I think, in the match T20I series on July 27 at Pallekele Interna- “It’s always a special thing to contribute in both
last five months, we have been thrown into differ- tional Cricket Stadium. The T20I series will be fol- departments. Took some wickets, very happy. In
ent scenarios and different challenges. As I always lowed by a three-match ODI series, beginning on T20s, you can struggle but one shot and you can get
say, catching is very, very important. If you take the August 2 at R Premadasa Stadium. back. The ground is big, we enjoy playing here, the at-
catches, you can control the game, and you can dom- India all-rounder Shivam Dube felt amazing mosphere and the people are amazing,” Dube said.
inate the game, which we did today,” Ghosh said. after ‘contributing in both departments’ against Shivam secured the ‘Player of the Match’
“Every time he steps on the ground, I think he Zimbabwe in the fifth match of the five-game se- award for his all-round performance. Washington
always says, I stand up. I think he always steps on ries. Dube was named the ‘Player of the Match’ af- Sundar, who scored 28 runs in two innings with best
the ground, putting no tools from me. I think this is ter he scored 26 runs from 12 balls at a strike rate of score of 27 and took eight wickets in the series, was
going to Rinku Singh,” he concluded. 216.67. He also picked up two wickets in four-over given the ‘Player of the Series’ awards.

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