Riding on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking fifty and Mayank Yadav’s fiery spell, the Indian cricket team beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the opening match of the ZIM vs IND T20 2026 series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
Speedster Mayank Yadav starred with the ball on his return to the national setup as India, second in the ICC T20I Rankings, restricted world No. 12 Zimbabwe to 125/7 in 20 overs.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then scored 50 off 19 balls and helped India complete the chase in just 13.2 overs and with seven wickets to spare. Blessing Muzarabani took two wickets for the hosts.
With the half-century, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest to score a fifty in international cricket, surpassing Nepal’s Kushal Malla, who was 15 years and 340 days old when he made an ODI half-century against the USA. Sooryavanshi achieved the feat at the age of 15 years and 118 days.
Mayank Yadav, back in the India setup after almost two years out with recurring injuries, needed only one delivery to announce his return, having Brian Bennett caught behind for a golden duck after the DRS review.
Prince Yadav then had debutant Ben Curran caught at midwicket for a brisk 10, before Mayank – bowling close to 149kmph – returned to force Dion Myers into playing one straight to mid-on in the fifth over.
Shivam Dube compounded the collapse in the eighth over with Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza holing out to deep midwicket for four as the Chevrons were reduced to 32/4.
Ryan Burl and Wessly Madhevere dug in to steady the innings before Ravi Bishnoi had Burl caught at long-off for 26, reducing Zimbabwe to 64/5.
Tadiwanashe Marumani and Madhevere fought back with a 58-run stand for the sixth wicket, but Dube’s throw to Ishan Kishan ran Madhevere out in the final over after top-scoring for the hosts with 39.
Prince Yadav removed Brad Evans in the very next ball as the Zimbabwe cricket team closed on 125/7.
Mayank, playing his fourth T20I, finished with career-best figures of 2/18. Debutant Ashok Sharma went wicketless, conceding 29 in his four overs.
Indian opener Abhishek Varma departed for just one but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced some inspired big-hitting to light up Harare.
The 15-year-old slammed four sixes and as many boundaries to bring up his maiden T20I fifty in just 18 balls, thereby becoming the youngest to score a half-century in the format. He is also the youngest player to score a fifty in international cricket.
The teenager departed just after getting to the landmark, after getting a top edge off Richard Ngarava.
Ishan Kishan (35) and Shreyas Iyer (28*) helped take India home with 40 balls to spare.
The win marked India’s first win under new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer and an end to a seven-match winless run in the format.
The second Zimbabwe vs India T20 match will be held at the same venue on Saturday.
ZIM vs IND T20 2026, 1st match, brief scores: Zimbabwe 125/7 in 20 overs (Wessly Madhevere 39; Mayank Yadav 2/18) lost to India 126/3 in 13.2 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 50; Blessing Muzarabani 2/26) by seven wickets.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/zimbabwe-vs-india-t20-cricket-2026-match-1-report
