Our magician Ravi Bishnoi registered career-best figures in T20 cricket in the first game of the five-match series against Zimbabwe in Harare on Saturday. 

Though India eventually fell short by 13 runs, Bishnoi bowled two maiden overs and picked up 4/13 in his four overs to help the recently-crowned world champions restrict the home side to 115/9 in 20 overs. The leg spinner eclipsed his previous best of 4/16, which came against the West Indies in 2022.

Our star bowler struck with his first ball of the day after India elected to field first. Bowling the last over of the powerplay, Bishnoi outfoxed the dangerous-looking Brian Bennet with a wrong one, beating him completely.

After a maiden, Bishnoi castled opener Wessly Madhevere, again with a wrong one, in his second over, as the score read 51/3. Bishnoi bowled a double-wicket maiden in his last over, 16th of the innings, to reduce Zimbabwe to 90/9.

Bishnoi first caught Luke Jongwe in front with the first ball of the over for his third wicket. He then cleaned up Blessing Muzarabani for a duck to end with impressive figures of 4/13.

Bishnoi has a tally of 40 wickets from 25 T20Is at an excellent average of 17.90 and a strike rate of 14.6. He is also our top wicket-taker in the IPL, with 39 dismissals from 42 innings.

Here’s wishing him and the Indian cricket team all the best for the rest of the tour.