After the injury to their T20 side on the tour of UK, this Zimbabwe series could be very important for India.After getting their first win under new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer after a seven-match winless streak at the helm, India will look to take a 2-0 lead when they take on Zimbabwe in the second T20 match at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.Following clean sheets against Ireland (0-2) and England (0-4), India’s convincing seven-wicket win in the opening match has restored much-needed confidence.However, even as the visitors look to improve, one player who will be under the scanner is opener Abhishek Sharma.Two years ago, Harare was the place where Abhishek announced himself on the international stage with an impressive maiden T20I hundred in only his second match.The left-hander returns to the same spot looking for a spark after a worrying dip. After starting the England series promisingly with scores of 59 and 43, Abhishek’s return later read 10, 16, 3 and 1. In Thursday’s opener, his unimpressive 1-ball display showed a quick hit on rhythm and confidence.With the competition for the place intensifying, Abhishek knows he needs to run. Senior opener Sanju Samson, though absent from the tour, is still in the selectors’ plans and has been named in India’s squad for the Asian Games later this year. A big win in Harare will not only help India seal the series but also strengthen Abhishek’s case for a quick turnaround in T20.India, however, found a new hero in the opening game.Young all-rounder Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a stunning 18-ball fifty, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I in half a century.The 15-year-old, who endured a tough tour in England where pace bowlers like Jofra Archer constantly tested him with short bowling, responded in style in Zimbabwe.Impersonating Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani without fear, he created a stutter that emphasized why he loved him so much.Backed by Ishan Kishan’s brisk 35 and an unbeaten 28 from skipper Iyer, Sooryavanshi ensured that India chased down the target with more than six overs to spare.All-rounder VVS Laxman would have been equally pleased with India’s turnaround. The biggest highlight was the return of Mayank Yadav, who made a spectacular comeback after two years of injury. The Delhi quickly finished with figures of 2 for 18 and always touched the top speed, with his opening to Brian Bennett at 150 kmph showing that his pace remains.Prince Yadav also showed signs of improvement after a lean tour of England, while Ashok Sharma showed enough promise to be another exciting bowling option.
