Vaibhav Sooryavanshi powers India to dominant 3-0 series victory

Sooryavanshi - Player of the series Was the standout performer for India in the series. Key knocks/wickets turned the games and he led India to a dominant win. India wrapped up the series with a clean sweep. Complete team performance across batting, bowling, and fielding sealed all 3 matches. India dominated the series from start to finish, with Sooryavanshi emerging as the star. The 3-0 result shows India’s depth and control in these conditions. Batting first on a slowish surface - the same one as the second T20I - India lost Abhishek Sharma early but Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan added 75 runs off 50 balls for the second wicket. Sooryavanshi fell for 81 but contributions from Shreyas Iyer (27 off 18) and Rinku Singh (25 off 14) took India to an above-par 192 for 5. In reply, Zimbabwe were never really in the chase. Mayank removed Brian Bennett with the first ball of the match for the second time in the series, while Thakur struck twice in two balls to hurt the hosts in the powerplay. Ryan Burl (54*) and Wessly Madhevere (28) were the only major contributors as Zimbabwe were restricted to 157 for 7. Mayank was once again rapid, picking up 3 for 29, while Thakur returned 2 for 45. Sooryavanshi - Grit over flair Made a 50 off 31 balls — his second-slowest in T20s. It wasn’t his usual attacking self, but he adapted. On a tough pitch where hitting through the line was hard, he chose to bide his time and anchor. The innings Got a life early: thick outside edge off Sikandar Raza in the 1st over, then went over covers. Blessing Muzarabani’s bounce and angle well, hitting a big pull over deep square and a four past deep third off him. Against Brad Evans and Newman Nyamhuri, he played smart: opened the bat face to steer, and punched powerfully through the V. Fell to Muzarabani for the 3rd game running — edged to the keeper. Finished the tour with 1, 8, 2. Sooryavanshi did slow down post the powerplay but a 103-metre six off Raza and a pull over deep midwicket off Madhevere helped him move into the 80s. It needed a screamer from Evans, running in from long-off to complete the catch inches off the ground, to send Sooryavanshi back for 81 off 49 balls, which included eight fours and four sixes. It was deja-vu for Bennett as Mayank steamed in first ball of the chase with a 147kph thunderbolt and caught his outside edge with an outswinger. The only difference between his dismissal in this game and the first was the position where he was caught. His thick outside edge hurried to the left of Sooryavanshi at first slip, who took a smart catch. India drop chances, but fight back Kishan dropped a dolly after the powerplay and Curran punished it with 2 fours in that over. But Bishnoi struck soon after, dismissing Curran for 20 when his reverse-swat went wrong.Zimbabwe middle order - too late Burl and Madhevere came together with the required rate already over 10 RPO. It soon climbed past 12 RPO. They put on 60 off 50 balls, but the game was already out of reach. Both were dropped once: Madhevere by Tilak Varma at cover, Burl by Sooryavanshi at deep square — the toughest of 5 catches India put down. Mayank removed Madhevere for his 2nd wicket. Burl reached 50 off 42 balls with a leg glance in the penultimate over — his 5th T20I fifty. Evans hit a six but Zimbabwe never really threatened. India 192 for 5 (Sooryavanshi 81, Kishan 29, Evans 2-41) beat Zimbabwe 157 for 7 (Burl 54*, Madhevere 28, Mayank 3-29, Thakur 2-45) by 35 runs