India get first T20I series win under skipper Iyer, beat Zimbabwe by 90 runs in 2nd T20I

Harare: India sealed their first T20I series victory under captain Shreyas Iyer with a commanding 90-run win over Zimbabwe in the second T20I at Harare Sports Club on Saturday, clinching the two-match series 2-0.

The emphatic victory comes as a welcome turnaround for the Men in Blue after disappointing defeats on their recent UK tour, where they suffered a 2-0 series loss to Ireland and a 4-0 whitewash against England.

After being asked to bat first, India recovered from an early wobble to post a formidable 219/5, thanks to a scintillating 81 from Ishan Kishan and an unbeaten 60 off just 29 deliveries by Tilak Varma. The pair stitched together a match-defining partnership before accelerating in the latter stages of the innings.

Zimbabwe never recovered in the chase as India's bowlers produced a disciplined display to dismiss the hosts for 129 in 17.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma starred with figures of 3/17, while Yash Thakur claimed 2/30 and Prince Yadav picked up 2/10 on his international debut.

Zimbabwe made a brisk start, with Brian Bennett attacking the Indian seamers before Yash Thakur dismissed him for a 19-ball 32 to claim his maiden international wicket.

The breakthrough triggered a collapse. Prince Yadav removed Ben Curran and Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza in quick succession, while Ravi Bishnoi accounted for Dion Myers as the hosts slumped to 49/4 inside seven overs.

Prince's spell was cut short after he appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and left the field, but India maintained control. Shivam Dube dismissed Wesley Madhvere before Tilak Varma chipped in with the wicket of Ryan Burl, who was brilliantly caught by Rinku Singh.

Brad Evans and Tadiwanashe Marumani briefly resisted with a useful partnership that took Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark, but Abhishek Sharma's left-arm spin ended any hopes of a comeback by dismissing Evans and Newman Nyamhuri in the same spell.

Yash Thakur then bowled Marumani before Abhishek wrapped up the innings by removing Richard Ngarava.

Earlier, India endured a shaky start after losing Abhishek Sharma for eight and teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a rapid 20 off just nine balls.

Captain Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan steadied the innings with a composed partnership before Iyer fell for 25. Kishan, however, continued to dominate the Zimbabwe attack, reaching his half-century in 31 balls before finding another gear alongside Tilak Varma.

The duo took the attack to the bowlers in the final overs, with Tilak bringing up a 23-ball fifty before Kishan departed for a superb 81, featuring nine fours and two sixes.

Tilak remained unbeaten on 60 from just 29 deliveries, striking five fours and three sixes, as India finished strongly with 219/5.

Zimbabwe's bowlers shared the wickets, with Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri and Brian Bennett claiming one apiece, but the total proved well beyond the hosts' reach as India completed a comprehensive series-clinching victory