Kishan's 81 and Tilak's unbeaten 60 power India to 219/5 vs Zimbabwe in 2nd T20I
Synopsis
Ishan Kishan's pull-shot masterclass — 81 off 44 balls, with 46 runs through mid-wicket and long-on — combined with Tilak Varma's 23-ball fifty to hand India a 219/5 that Zimbabwe's bowlers, every one of them leaking above eight runs per over, had no answer to.
Key Takeaways
Ishan Kishan smashed 81 off 44 balls , including nine fours and two sixes , with 46 runs coming through the mid-wicket and long-on regions.
Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 60 off 29 balls , reaching his fifty in just 23 balls .
Kishan and Varma added 94 runs for the fourth wicket to anchor India's total.
India finished at 219/5 in 20 overs after being put in to bat at the Harare Sports Club on 25 July .
Every Zimbabwe bowler conceded an economy rate above eight ; Brian Bennett (1-22) and Newman Nyamhuri (1-25) were the wicket-takers.
Ishan Kishan blazed 81 off 44 balls and vice-captain Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 60 off 29 deliveries as India posted a commanding 219/5 in 20 overs against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, 25 July. Put in to bat, India overcame two early setbacks to put together a total that left the hosts' bowlers with an economy rate above eight across the board.
Bright Start, Early Blows
Abhishek Sharma set the tone by cracking back-to-back boundaries off Sikandar Raza in the opening over, but Blessing Muzarabani struck in the second, trapping Sharma for 8 with a back-of-a-length delivery that was spooned to backward point. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, fresh from his maiden T20I fifty in the series opener, counter-attacked immediately — launching Richard Ngarava for a six and three boundaries in a 19-run third over. Ngarava had the last word, however, dismissing Sooryavanshi for 20 caught off his own bowling.
Iyer Steadies, Kishan Explodes
Captain Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings alongside Kishan, the pair adding 42 runs for the third wicket before Brian Bennett intervened in the 10th over, drawing Iyer into a mistimed cut shot to backward point — out for 25. Kishan then shifted gears, reaching his half-century off 33 balls with a measured approach before unleashing a breathtaking assault. He struck nine fours and two sixes, with 46 of his 81 runs coming through the mid-wicket and long-on corridor via a well-executed pull shot. His innings ended in the 18th over when he miscued a pull off Newman Nyamhuri to deep point.
Tilak Varma's Blazing Finish
Varma and Kishan had already forged a 94-run fourth-wicket stand by the time Kishan fell. Varma then accelerated further, reaching his fifty in just 23 balls — with 16 of those runs arriving through the cut shot. Rinku Singh contributed a quickfire 12 before falling to Evans, and Shivam Dube capped the innings with a boundary off the penultimate ball to push India past the 210-run mark. Zimbabwe's bowlers had a torrid evening: every member of the attack returned with an economy rate exceeding eight.
Brief Scores
India 219/5 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 81, Tilak Varma 60*; Brian Bennett 1-22, Newman Nyamhuri 1-25) vs Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe's response is awaited as India look to seal the series.
Point of View
With 46 of his runs concentrated through one corridor. More telling is Tilak Varma's emergence as a genuine finisher: a 23-ball fifty batting at No. 5 under pressure signals intent beyond a cameo role. Zimbabwe's bowling unit, with every member leaking above eight an over, face a structural problem that one or two changes cannot fix. If India's batting continues at this clip, the series outcome looks increasingly one-sided.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was India's total in the 2nd T20I against Zimbabwe?
India posted 219/5 in 20 overs against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on 25 July, after being put in to bat.
How did Ishan Kishan perform in the 2nd T20I?
Ishan Kishan scored 81 off 44 balls , hitting nine fours and two sixes, with 46 of his runs coming through the mid-wicket and long-on areas via the pull shot. He reached his fifty in 33 balls before being dismissed in the 18th over.
What was Tilak Varma's score against Zimbabwe?
Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 60 off 29 balls , reaching his fifty in just 23 balls. He hit 16 runs through the cut shot and was the key architect of India's late surge past 210.
Which Zimbabwe bowlers took wickets in the 2nd T20I?
Brian Bennett (1-22) and Newman Nyamhuri (1-25) were Zimbabwe's wicket-takers. However, every bowler in the attack conceded at an economy rate above eight, making it a difficult day for the hosts.
How did India's innings unfold in the 2nd T20I at Harare?
India lost Abhishek Sharma (8) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (20) early, before Shreyas Iyer (25) and Ishan Kishan steadied the innings. Kishan and Tilak Varma then added 94 for the fourth wicket, with Rinku Singh (12) and Shivam Dube contributing cameos to push India to 219/5.
