"We lost wickets continuously..." - Ravi Bishnoi furious at batters after India's shocking loss to Zimbabwe in 1st T20I

India cricket team leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi called for the team to regroup and approach the second T20I with a fresh mindset after an unexpected loss to Zimbabwe in the five-match T20I series opener on Saturday, July 6, in Harare.

However, Bishnoi had an amazing day on the field in Harare, finishing with career-best figures of 4/13, including two maidens, in the first T20I match against Zimbabwe. His effort helped Team India restrict the Zimbabwe cricket team to 115/9 in the T20I series opener in Harare.

However, the young spinner’s efforts went in vain, as the Men in Blue suffered a 13-run defeat after they bowled out just 102 runs in the first T20I in Harare. It was India’s first loss in the format in 2024.

Ravi Bishnoi blames Indian batters for embarrassing defeat against Zimbabwe

After the match, Bishnoi emphasized the importance of building partnerships, saying a lack of partnerships didn’t help them chase 116 runs and eventually cost them the match.

The leg-spinner admitted that a couple of partnerships could have made the difference, but they failed to do that and suffered an embarrassing defeat against Zimbabwe in the first T20I, with the second game to be played at the same venue in Harare on Sunday, July 7.

Bishnoi also lauded Zimbabwe for their brilliant bowling and fielding efforts, which didn’t allow India to build a partnership in the first match. Notably, Sikandar Raza (3/25) and Tendai Chatara (3/16) were the standout performers with the ball for Zimbabwe, while Clive Madande (29*) was the top scorer for them in the five-match T20I series opener against Team India.

Ravi Bishnoi said at the post-match press conference in Harare, “It was a good game of cricket, but I think we collapsed; we lost wickets continuously. We could have made a little bit of a partnership, one or so, that could have made the game better for us, but we weren’t able to make a partnership in between. So, I think that made the difference. Zimbabwe's bowling and fielding were really good. They did not allow us to build partnerships.”

Shubman Gill's captaincy is very good: Ravi Bishnoi

Meanwhile, Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20I cricket after winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 last month, and Bishnoi believes it is now the responsibility of the new-generation players to take Indian cricket forward.

Bishnoi further noted, “It's time for new players. The senior players have retired and handed over the mantle to us.”

The Rajasthan-born cricketer also praised the way Shubman Gill led the Indian team in his debut match as captain. The spinner further mentioned that Gill brilliantly made bowling changes, but their batter let them down in the first T20I match against Zimbabwe.

Bishnoi signed off by saying, “Shubman’s captaincy is very good. His bowling changes were spot on; it’s a sign of good captaincy.”