India vs Zimbabwe 1st T20, Highlights: MS Dhoni Fails To Take Team Through As ZIM Stun IND By Two Runs

After being put in to bat, Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha gave Zimbabwe a solid start but both fell in quick succession courtesy some tight bowling from Jasprit Bumrah. Sikandar Raza and Malcolm Waller continued to pile on the runs but soon the hosts lost three wickets and were reeling at 111/5 in 15 overs. Elton Chigumbura came to the rescue and his aggressive innings of 54* guided Zimbabwe to a competitive total. For India, Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers as he ended with the figures of 2/24.

In reply, India got off to a bad start as they lost three wickets inside the first eight overs. Pandey and Dhoni then stitched together a 53-run partnership to get India back on track but soon Pandey and Axar got out and it all came down to the last over. Madziva executed his yorkers to perfection and as a result of that, Zimbabwe beat India by two runs. Catch all the highlights of this match here. (SCORECARD | SCHEDULE | NEWS)

20:24 hrs IST: That's it from us for today. Do join us on Monday for the live coverage of the second T20I. Until then, it's goodbye. Cheers! 

Elton Chigumbura (Man of the Match): "Good effort from the whole team. Everyone contributed today. This one will give us the confidence to do the same thing again, and improve."

Graeme Cremer (Zimbabwe's skipper): "Excellent to come back from the losses in ODI series. A lot of pressure off me. We are not going to stop here. We know Elton can always be dangerous. He is one innings away from doing something special again."

MS Dhoni (India's skipper): "Ultimately, the contest is between the bat and ball. I felt the last ball was brilliant. we did not play to potential. A lot of wickets were not full-fledged shots, more like catching practice. you may be doing well in the domestic circuit but there is more pressure when you go from India A to India. Good learning curve for them."

20:02 hrs IST: And that's it. Zimbabwe beat India by 2 runs to take 1-0 lead in three match series. 

#ZIMvIND Madziva to MS Dhoni 1 run THAT`S IT ZIM WIN by 2 runs!!!

- Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) June 18, 2016

20:00 hrs IST: India now require 4 off the last ball. Dhoni on strike. 

19:55 hrs IST: WICKET! Axar c W Masakadza b Madziva 18(9). Need 7 off 4 balls. 

19:51 hrs IST: SIX! Fuller delivery from Tiripano and Axar smashes it straight back over the bowler's head. India now require 8 off 6 balls. 

19:49 hrs IST: FOUR! Slower delivery from Tiripano and Axar slices it past the point region. Much needed boundary for India!

19:47 hrs IST: Tiripano to bowl the penultimate over. 

19:45 hrs IST: SIX! Length delivery from Muzarabani and Axar thumps it high over long-on for his first maximum. India now require 21 off 12 balls. 

19:42 hrs IST: WICKET! Pandey c Tiripano b Muzarabani 48(35). India in a little spot of bother now. 

19:37 hrs IST: 50-run partnership between Pandey and Dhoni. India now require 29 off 18 balls. 

19:33 hrs IST: Excellent running between the wickets from Dhoni and Pandey. India on course now.

19:29 hrs IST: Costly over from Madziva. 12 runs off it. India now require 41 off 24 balls. 

19:24 hrs IST: Single off the last ball for Pandey. India now require 53 off 30 balls. 

19:22 hrs IST: FOUR! First boundary for Dhoni. Back of a length delivery from Muzarabani, Dhoni steps out and places it well between the fielders at short third-man and backward point. 

19:18 hrs IST: Consecutive sixes from Pandey. He looks in top form. Good over for India. 16 runs off it. They now require 63 off 36 balls. 

19:15 hrs IST: In comes skipper Dhoni at number six. Brilliant over from Muzarabani. Just three runs off it. India now require 79 off 42 balls. 

19:12 hrs IST: WICKET! Jadhav b Muzarabani 19(13). 

19:09 hrs IST: FOUR! Flatter delivery from Cremer and Jadhav slaps it over covers for a boundary. India now require 82 off 48 balls. 

19:06 hrs IST: Good over for India. 10 runs off it. They now require 92 off 54 balls. 

#ZIMvIND 11th over: @BCCI on 79/3 (Pandey 13* Jadhav 13*) pic.twitter.com/mbdRSLHyPf

- Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) June 18, 2016

19:03 hrs IST: SIX! Jadhav dances down the track and launches it over long-on. Colossal blow! 

18:59 hrs IST: SIX! Flighted delivery from Cremer and Pandey hits it straight over the bowler's head for a maximum. 

18:57 hrs IST: Two runs off the last ball for Jadhav. Five runs off Raza's second. India are 60/3 after 9 overs. 

18:54 hrs IST: Eight runs and a wicket off the over. India are 55/3 after 8 overs. 

18:52 hrs IST: OUT! Mandeep c Mutombodzi b Chibhabha 31(27). Caught at long-off. 

18:49 hrs IST: FOUR! Chibhabha just misses the length and Mandeep flicks it past the fielder at short fine-leg for his fifth boundary. 

18:46 hrs IST: Tidy over from Raza. Just three runs off it. India are 47/2 after 7 overs. 

18:42 hrs IST: WICKET! Rayudu b Chibhabha 19(16). Inside edges it. India are 44/2 after 5.5 overs. 

18:40 hrs IST: FOUR! Slower delivery from Chigumbura, Mandeep makes room and hits it well in the gap between mid-off and cover for a boundary. 

18:37 hrs IST: Expensive over from Muzarabani. 10 runs off it. India are 39/1 after 5 overs.  

18:33 hrs IST: FOUR! Length ball from Madziva and Mandeep lofts it over mid-off fielder for his second boundary. India are 29/1 after 4 overs. 

18:29 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - This is the first time India have lost a wicket on the first ball of the innings in a T20I. 

18:24 hrs IST: Five runs off the over. India are 13/1 after 2 overs. 

18:20 hrs IST: Two boundaries for Rayudu. India are 8/1 after first over. 

18:17 hrs IST: WICKET! Rahul b Tiripano 0(1). 

18:15 hrs IST: Time for India's chase. Rahul and Mandeep to open. Tiripano to bowl the first over. 

18:00 hrs IST: SIX! And that's fifty for Chigumbura. His 3rd in T20I. Zimbabwe finish on 170/6 in their 20 overs. We'll be back in a few minutes time. 

#ZIMvIND Well played @ChigumburaElton! pic.twitter.com/dzYdGVmOKl

- Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) June 18, 2016

17:56 hrs IST: SIX! Slower delivery from Unadkat and Chigumbura hammers it over deep mid-wicket for his fifth maximum. 21 runs off the over. Zimbabwe are 155/6 after 19 overs. 

17:55 hrs IST: Consecutive wides from Unadkat. He is really struggling. 

17:52 hrs IST: SIX! Overpitched delivery from Unadkat and Chigumbura whacks it into the long-on stands. What a shot! 

17:50 hrs IST: Unadkat to bowl the penultimate over. 

17:49 hrs IST: Excellent over from Bumrah. Just four runs off it. Zimbabwe are 134/5 after 18 overs. 

17:46 hrs IST: OUT! Cremer c R Dhawan b Bumrah 4(5). Caught at mid-off.

Jasprit Bumrah (R) was the pick of the bowlers for India as he finished with the figures of 4-1-24-2.

© AFP

17:43 hrs IST: SIX! Chigumbura dances down the track and powers it over long-off for a maximum. Zimbabwe are 130/5 after 17 overs. 

17:40 hrs IST: WICKET! Flighted delivery from Axar, Mutombodzi tries to hit it over long-off but doesn't quite get it there and R Dhawan completes a neat catch. Zimbabwe 115/5 after 16 overs. 

17:38 hrs IST: Costly over from Chahal. 11 runs off it. Zimbabwe are 111/4 after 15 overs. Can they get to 160?

17:35 hrs IST: Chigumbura gets off the mark with a single. Zimbabwe are 100/4 after 14 overs. 

17:31 hrs IST: Another WICKET. Zimbabwe in deep trouble. Raza run out 20(18). 

17:29 hrs IST: WICKET! Waller b Chahal 30(21). Zimbabwe are 97/3 after 12.4 overs. 

17:28 hrs IST: FOUR! Flighted delivey from Chahal and Waller smashes it over covers for one bounce four. 

17:25 hrs IST: Even in the ODIs, Zimbabwe started off well. Once they crossed 100, that's when it became problematic for them. 

17:22 hrs IST: Two runs off the last ball for Waller. Zimbabwe are 80/2 after 11 overs. 

17:19 hrs IST: Chahal now. 

17:18 hrs IST: Good first half for Zimbabwe. At this rate, they can get to 170. Zimbabwe are 72/2 after 10 overs. 

17:15 hrs IST: FOUR! Too short from R Dhawan and Raza it towards mid-wicket and gets a boundary. Zimbabwe are 67/2 after 9 overs. 

17:13 hrs IST: FOUR! Length delivery from R Dhawan, Raza steps out and carves it past the point region for his first boundary. 

17:11 hrs IST: Decent start from Axar. Seven runs off his first. Zimbabwe are 57/2 after 8 overs. 

17:09 hrs IST: WICKET! And he's gone. Chibhabha b Dhawan 20(19). Zimbabwe are 50/2 after 7 overs. 

17:07 hrs IST: Consecutive boundaries from Chibhabha and that brings up the 50 for Zimbabwe. 

17:03 hrs IST: FOUR! Fuller delivery from Unadkat and Chibhabha lofts it over mid-off for his second boundary. Zimbabwe are 41/1 after 6 overs. 

16:59 hrs IST: Richmond Mutumbami is wobbling off the field after being hit on the rib region by a Unadkat delivery. 

16:55 hrs IST: OUT! Masakadza c Dhoni b Bumrah 25(15). Top edges it. 

16:49 hrs IST: Dot ball to finish off. Expensive over from Unadkat. 13 runs off it. Zimbabwe are 33/0 after 4 overs. 

16:46 hrs IST: SIX! Shortish delivery from Unadkat, Masakadza gets into position and clobbers it over backward square leg boundary. 

16:44 hrs IST: Six runs of the over. Zimbabwe are 20/0 after 3 overs. 

16:40 hrs IST: Bumrah comes in as the first change. 

16:38 hrs IST: FOUR! Overpitched from R Dhawan, Masakadza times it sweetly through the covers for his first boundary. Zimbabwe are 14/0 after 2 overs. 

16:36 hrs IST: SIX! Too short from R Dhawan and Maskadza launches it over deep mid-wicket boundary for a maximum. Effortless shot! 

16:35 hrs IST: R Dhawan to share the new ball with Unadkat. 

The five Indian debutants Rishi Dhawan (starting from left), Mandeep Singh, KL Rahul, Jaydev Unadkat and Yuzvendra Chahal for the first T20I vs Zimbabwe. (Image Credit: BCCI/Twitter)

© Twitter

16:34 hrs IST: Tidy start from Unadkat. Zimbabwe are 2/0 after first over. 

16:32 hrs IST: First runs of the day for Chibhabha. Pushes it to short cover region for a quick single.

16:31 hrs IST: Straightaway some shape for Unadkat. 

16:29 hrs IST: It's time for action. Chibhabha and Masakadza make their way out in the middle. Unadkat to start the proceedings for India. 

16:24 hrs IST: Two current Test players to play in India's first pink ball game. Find out who. 

16:10 hrs IST: Here are the playing XI of both teams: 

India: KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Axar Patel, Rishi Dhawan, Jasprit Bumrah, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal

Zimbabwe: Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Graeme Cremer (c), Neville Madziva, Taurai Muzarabani, Donald Tiripano

16:05 hrs IST: Indian skipper MS Dhoni wins the toss and opts to bowl first. 

The #T20I series trophy unveiling ceremony #TeamIndia #ZimvInd #1stT20I pic.twitter.com/g9wRNBv9Uk

- BCCI (@BCCI) June 18, 2016

16:00 hrs IST: Toss time. 

15:57 hrs IST: Five Indian players will be making their T20I debut today. Chahal, Rahul, Mandeep, R Dhawan and Unadkat. 

15:55 hrs IST: A warm welcome to our live coverage of first of three T20Is between India vs Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. 

India whitewashed Zimbabwe 3-0 in the ODI series and will be gunning for a similar result when the two teams clash in the three-match T20 series.

© AFP

Zimbabwe fill fancy their chances against India in the shortest format of the game. In the 50-overs format, Zimbabwean batsmen were found wanting to play long innings and build partnerships. Effectively, India won the series 3-0 with plenty to spare.

Interestingly, Zimbabwe beat India in a T20 match International when the two nations played a two-match series in Harare in July 2015. Zimbabwe won the second match by 10 runs to tie the series 1-1.

Chamu Chibhabha had top scored with a 51-ball 67 as Zimbabwe scored 145 for seven against a decent Indian attack consisting of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma and Axar Patel. Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer took 3 for 18 as India were restricted to 135 for 9. Robin Uthappa top scored with 42.

Cremer will be leading Zimbabwe in this series and Chibhabha will be looking to repeat his show as the hosts seek redemption in a horribly one-sided series so far. On current form, Vusi Sibanda (38, 53, 5 vs India in the ODIs) should get the runs with some good support from Sikandar Raza and Elton Chigumbura.

India have a problem of plenty. The entire 16-man squad, except Faiz Fazal, is loaded with T20 experience after a hectic two months of IPL. The ODI playing XI has hardly been tested. Jayant Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat and Rishi Dhawan are yet to get a game.

Zimbabwe will miss two key players - Craig Ervine and Sean Williams - due to injuries.

Catch live cricket score and updates of India vs Zimbabwe first T20 here.