Zimbabwe captain Raza blames pitch after T20I loss to India

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has criticized the pitch conditions at the Harare Sports Club following his team's seven-wicket defeat to India in the first T20 International on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Raza said prolonged moisture early in the match made batting exceptionally difficult and contributed to Zimbabwe's collapse.

After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Zimbabwe found themselves in deep trouble at 32 for 4. A recovery led by Wesley Madhevere, who scored 39, and Tadiwanashe Marumani, who finished 27 not out, helped the hosts post a total of 125 for 7 in their 20 overs. India chased down the target of 126 with ease, needing just 13.2 overs to secure a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The chase was spearheaded by 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored a record-breaking half-century off only 18 balls.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Raza expressed his dissatisfaction with the playing surface. He stated that the moisture present in the morning session made conditions challenging for a longer period than anticipated, particularly when facing the new ball. "Again, not up to the standard, I think," Raza said. "In the morning, I think that...