India and Zimbabwe played the first T20I of the three-match series on July 23, 2026, at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe. India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first. Ashok Sharma made his T20I debut for India, and Mayank Yadav returned to the team after a long absence.
Mayank had an immediate impact, dismissing Brian Bennett with the opening delivery of the encounter and sending Dion Myers back for 6 runs. Prince Yadav dismissed debutant Ben Curran for ten runs, while Shivam Dube dismissed skipper Sikandar Raza for four runs.
After this initial setback, Ryan Burl (26), Wessly Madhevere (39), and Tadiwanashe Marumani (27*) guided Zimbabwe to a comfortable 125/7 in 20 overs. Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav took two wickets each for India.
In response, Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Abhishek Sharma for one run early on, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi tore apart Zimbabwe's bowlers, scoring runs all around the Harare Cricket Club and also handling short-pitch bowling.
He smashed four fours and four sixes on his way to his first T20I fifty for India, hitting the mark in just 18 balls. After his dismissal, Ishan Kishan (35) and Shreyas Iyer (28*) ensured that India won the game with 7 wickets in hand in 13.2 overs, putting them ahead 1-0 in the series.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer was a happy captain as he registered his first win as India’s T20I skipper. Before this win, India had lost 0-2 to Ireland and then 0-4 to England, with one game getting rained out.
“Exceptional. They were tremendous in terms of execution, and me getting my first win, I can't be happier. Absolutely, as I mentioned earlier, I was anticipating the bounce, and there was a decent amount of bounce on this wicket, especially from the hard length. And also, it was variable at the start. I personally feel that in both innings it was there,” Iyer said in the post-match presentation, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Iyer was also praiseful of Mayank Yadav, who gave India a brilliant start with two quick wickets, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who became the youngest ever to score a fifty in T20I and international cricket at the age of 15 years and 118 days.
“Exceptional start given by Mayank, the way he bowled in terms of executing his line and length, not giving them room to score runs. I think that's very critical for us, and then Vaibhav coming in the powerplay gives us an exceptional start.
In every team, there is going to be a batter who is going to take the team to the hilt and post a decent total. I think they analyzed the wicket pretty well, and they started building partnerships. That was when I wanted to rotate my bowlers as well and see to it that they get decent rhythm because we're going to play two more matches over here. So, everyone is getting chances and opportunities to come and bowl and bat; that actually gives a lot of confidence to them as well,” Iyer said.
After a lukewarm T20I debut in England, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed 50 in 19 balls with 4 fours and four sixes and received praise from his skipper.
“Exceptional batting by him. He's a fearless youngster, and the way he approached this innings was phenomenal. So, yeah, I think he's played here before, so he's got a fair idea about how the wickets are. He's got 175, I guess, in the under-19 final, so he definitely possesses immense confidence when he steps onto the field. So, good to see it today. Good start to the series,” Iyer concluded.
The second and third T20Is of the series will be held at the same venue on July 25 and 26.
