The Men in Blue have defeated the Zimbabwe side in the final game of Super 12. With this win, India finished have topped Group 2 with 8 points from 5 matches. Rohit and Co. were clinical with the bat and then with the ball as well. Rahul and Suryakumar set the tone for India. With his magnificent 62-run knock, Suryakumar has become the first Indian and only second in the world to score 1000 runs in T20Is in a calendar year. He is also the player of the match for today's match. Coming into bowl, India were equally brilliant as fast bowlers were on roll. Raza and Burl displayed some fight but it was way too late and way too much for them and they lost their wickets later. Also, Ashwin has surpassed Jasprit Bumrah to become the third-highest leading wicket-taker for India in T20Is. Zimbabwe got bowled out for 115 and India got a big 71-run win. Now we are heading into the biggest stages of the tournament. The Semifinals and the final. India will now face England in the second semi-final in Adelaide on 10th November, while Pakistan will have a crack at New Zealand in the first one in Sydney on 9th November. They shall be a cracker too. It was a pleasure bringing this game to you. See you soon, Ta Ta.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has struck two blows in a single over. Ashwin has raced past Jasprit Bumrah to become the third-highest leading wicket-taker for India in T20Is. With the double-wicket over, Ashwin now has 72 wickets, while Bumrah has 70.
And India have struck another blow. The partnership was building and Burl and Raza were striking well in the previous overs. However, Ashwin finds his first breakthrough and Zimbabwe are 6 down.
Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza are not giving it up easily. Both are playing their strokes to lead Zimbabwe's fightback. Is it too late and too much left?
Another one bites the dust. Shami sends back Munyonga, and this maybe over rather quickly.
Hardik Pandya has sent back Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine in his first over. A soft dismissal as Ervine sent this back to the bowler Pandya, who grabs with one hand. India eyeing a big win with ZIM four down.
Not a good start for Zimbabwe in the chase as they have lost three wickets inside the first 6 overs. Bhuvneshwar, Arshdeep and Shami struck blows inside the powerplay while the batters hardly had any answers. Zimbabwe need to do a lot of work in the middle phase, while India will look to continue the good work.
Suryakumar Yadav played a gem of a knock at the MCG against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile cricket experts and fans have gone berkserk on SKY's knock.
Have a look:
Second wicket for India as Arshdeep Singh strikes in his first over. A beautiful inswinging delievery and Chakabva has been bowled. India on top at MCG.
India have struck on the first ball of the innings as Bhuvneshwar Kumar sends back Madhevere on a golden duck. Brilliant catch by Virat Kohli at short cover to give India an early breakthrough.
Suryakumar Yadav has led India to the highest T20I total in Melbourne Cricket Ground. He was in sensational touch today as well. The No.1 T20I batter SKY smashed bowlers all around the park and displayed his 360-degree show. Before this, 184 was the highest total at MCG, also scored by India. Today, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav were brilliant. While Rahul provided a good start, SKY helped India finish well. This looks like a good total and a few early wickets will surely help India to restrict Zimbabwe early. Back in a moment with the chase.
A 23-ball fifty for Suryakumar Yadav. OMG, he is in magical touch today.
India loses the fifth wicket as Hardik Pandya falls off a slower ball. Axar Patel walks in at 7.
Suryakumar Yadav has achieved a big milestone in the match. The No.1 T20I batter has become the first Indian and only second in World to smash 1000 runs in T20I cricket in a calendar year.
Suryakumar Yadav is on fire at the MCG. He is playing his 360-degree strokes and he is difficult to stop when he is in a mood like that. SKY is also eyeing a big milestone.
Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya have accelerated at the MCG. They have smashed Muzarabani for 18 runs in the 16th over and are going all guns blazing. If SKY is in mood, India can even get to 180+
India have lost their fourth wicket as Rishabh Pant walks back early. Pant slog-swept this and Ryan Burl ran to his left from long on to grab an excellent diving catch. India not benefitting from the start they had and giving away wickets.
And now, KL Rahul goes back after hitting his second consecutive fifty in the T20 World Cup. This was a slower ball from Raza and Rahul could not time it well. It went straight towards long on as India lose their third wicket.
India have lost their second wicket as Virat Kohli has been caught at long on.
India are on 79/1 after 10 overs. It's a good phase for India as they have lost only 1 wicket while Rahul and Virat are looking good. Perhaps, Rahul scoring runs is a big boost for India. He is closing to his second fifty in the T20 World Cup 2022. How much can India get?
KL Rahul has put his foot on the accelerator and is going behind the bowlers. Rahul is eyeing his fifty while the stand between him and Virat has crossed the fifty-run mark.
The Powerplay comes to an end with India at 46/1. A mixed start for India. They have got decent runs but lost skipper Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are looking good.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma falls early in another game. It's the short ball that has done the trick for Blessing Muzarabani as Rohit did his customary pull, only to find the fielder at deep backward square leg. Virat Kohli walks in.
India decided to play Rishabh Pant ahead of Dinesh Karthik in the final Super 12 game. Rohit opened on the selection at time of the toss.
One change, Rishabh Pant plays instead of Dinesh Karthik. Pant is the only guy who hasn't played a single match on this tour including the warm-up matches. So, we wanted to give him a game. Nothing changes, we need to do well as a team
The Indian openers are out in the middle. Richard Ngarava to start Zimbabwe's proceedings.
Anthems time at the iconic MCG. India's anthem to go first followed by Zimbabwe's anthem.
The Indian fans have reached in big numbers for India's final Super 12 game in Melbourne.
Have a look at some of the pictures from the venue
India's captain Rohit Sharma has achieved a big feat in T20I cricket. The hitman has become the third Indian captain after MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli to lead India in 50 T20Is. Doni has 72 T20I games as India's captain while Kohli and Rohit both have 50 games each as T20I skippers.
Two changes for Zimbabwe. Wellington and Munyonga are in, Milton and Luke Jongwe are out.
Playing XI: Wesley Madhevere, Craig Ervine(c), Regis Chakabva(w), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Tony Munyonga, Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani
One change for India, Pant in Karthik out.
Playing XI: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
India have won the toss and have opted to bat first against Zimbabwe in the final Super 12 game. Interestingly, India have opted to sit Dinesh Karthik out and have roped in Rishabh Pant for the match.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have become the second team from Group 2 to reach in the semis of the T20 World Cup 2022.
The pitch at the MCG offers good bounce and is also a decent track for the batters. More about the Pitch
The Weather in Melbourne is clear at the moment. There is a slight (30%) chance of a shower but the match is set to go ahead.
The Indian cricket team is all set to take on the Zimbabwe side in their final Super 12 game of the T20 World Cup. The 2021 agony and the 2022 Asia Cup debacle might have just eased a bit for India but this team has its target set. For that, they have reached the semis of the T20 World Cup 2022. The Indian team will need to be at their best in the remaining games. And for now, they will want to outclass Zimbabwe and finish on the first spot of Group 2. The Zimbabwe side is no pushover and the history of this World Cup hints no team shall be taken lightly. Also, a win for Zimbabwe will give them direct qualification for the next T20 World Cup in 2022. So sit back with your snacks as I Varun Malik take you across the final game of Super 12.
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