India clinches series as Varma overtakes Dhoni in T20I runs

India clinched its three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe with a dominant 90-run victory in the second contest at Harare Sports Club on Saturday, July 25, 2026. A powerful batting performance, highlighted by aggressive half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and vice-captain Tilak Varma, propelled the visitors to a formidable total of 219 for 5 before bowling out the hosts for 129.

After being asked to bat first, India lost openers Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi early. Kishan, promoted to number three, then steadied the innings with captain Shreyas Iyer, putting on 66 runs for the third wicket. Kishan accelerated after Iyer’s departure, scoring 81 runs from 44 deliveries, including nine fours and two sixes. He shared a crucial 94-run partnership with Varma, who provided a blistering finish.

Varma remained unbeaten on 60 from just 29 balls, an innings featuring five fours and three sixes, struck at a rate of 206.90. He reached his fifty in 23 deliveries. In a mid-innings interview, Varma noted the pitch was challenging for middle-overs batting but said the team felt a score around 200 would be competitive. He praised Kishan’s innings for helping push the total beyond that mark.