Less than 24 hours after being bowled out for 102 in a 13-run defeat in the T20I series opener on Saturday, India made a stunning batting turnaround on a tough pitch, thanks to the efforts of Abhishek, Gaikwad and Rinku.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Abhishek\u2019s first 50 runs came in 33 balls, before amassing his next 50 runs in just 13 balls to smash a whirlwind century, laced with seven fours and eight sixes. He showed patience at the start, before attacking the bowlers \u2013 especially Dion Myers and Wellington Masakadza - after power-play to play a memorable knock.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After he fell, Gaikwad seamlessly shifted gears in his knock laced with 11 fours and a six, while Rinku smashed two fours and seven sixes as India amassed 82 runs off the last five overs, with Zimbabwe\u2019s fielding and bowling display looking ordinary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Electing to bat first, India lost captain Shubman Gill early when he whipped straight to mid-on off Blessing Muzarabani. Abhishek, who opened his account with a pulled six off Brian Bennett in the opening over, thumped the spinner through cover for consecutive boundaries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In between, Zimbabwe\u2019s bowlers were right on the money to keep Abhishek and Ruturaj Gaikwad in check with seam movement and tight lines. Abhishek wasn\u2019t getting desired timing and was dropped on 27 by Wellington Masakadza off Luke Jongwe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
From there, Abhishek shifted gears by pulling and lofting Sikandar Raza for four and six respectively. After Gaikwad took two boundaries off Jongwe, Abhishek nailed his pulls thrice \u2013 one of which got him his fifty in 33 balls \u2013 off Dion Myers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He then thumped and swiped Myers for six and four respectively to take 28 runs off the 11th over. Raza was back in Abhishek\u2019s firing line as he launched him for six and four more, before overturning a caught-behind decision on review.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The carnage continued as Abhishek smoked Masakadza for three sixes \u2013 last of which was flicked over fine leg \u2013 to get his first T20I century for India. But his blitz came to an end immediately when he threw his hands at an outside off-stump ball and outside edge was caught by backward point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After that, with Rinku hitting boundaries from the word go, Gaikwad also found boundaries to get his fifty. Gaikwad then teared into Chatara \u2013 tonking twice in the \u2018V\u2019 for two boundaries, before hitting two fours through the off-side to take 20 runs off the 18th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The carnage continued as Abhishek smoked Masakadza for three sixes \u2013 last of which was flicked over fine leg \u2013 to get his first T20I century for India. But his blitz came to an end immediately when he threw his hands at an outside off-stump ball and outside edge was caught by backward point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n