‘It’s acceptable for youngsters to make mistakes, but senior players…’: Sikandar Raza’s unfiltered analysis after India defeat

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has asserted that his team’s senior players need to step up after a 23-run loss to India in the third T20I on Wednesday in Harare. The hosts had a poor day on the field after being asked to bowl first. While captain Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad set the stage for India’s win with their brilliant knocks, Zimbabwe’s sloppy defence also added to the massive total of 182 runs amassed by the visitors.

In response, Zimbabwe suffered a poor start before Dion Myers and Clive Madande built a 77-run lead for fifth place.^He The former hit his maiden T20I fifty and remained unbeaten on 65 off 49 balls, but his efforts were not enough to take the visitors home.

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In the post-match presentation, Raza did not hesitate to highlight the team’s shortcomings during the match. He was adamant that the veterans need to improve their game to match the opponent’s intensity.

“I think the problem is the fielding game, we are proud of our fielding game but today everything fell apart, we conceded 20 extra runs and lost by 23 runs. We still have problems at the top but I have utmost faith that they will improve at some point,” Raza said at the post-match presentation.

“We have tried 15 different partners (openers) in the last one and a half years or so. There is a lot of cricket in the country and club cricket has revived.

“It is time for our players, including myself, to take responsibility. It is acceptable for youngsters to make mistakes, but senior players must step up. You cannot solve a problem by creating another problem; we have chosen three starters for a reason. The starters who have been chosen must be given the opportunity to play,” Raza said.

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Sikandar Raza tried to fight back by hitting three boundaries but Washington slowly swept him towards mid-wicket in the seventh over.

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Madande and Myers feasted on the friendly width and lengths of part-timers Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube as well as Bishnoi to hit nine boundaries in their brilliant 77-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Washington Sundar was India’s player of the match, scoring 3 in 15 and being named Man of the Match.

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Madande and Myers feasted on the friendly width and lengths of part-timers Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube as well as Bishnoi to hit nine boundaries in their brilliant 77-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Washington Sundar was India’s player of the match, scoring 3 in 15 and being named Man of the Match.