India's 3 highest wicket-takers vs Zimbabwe in T20Is ft. Axar Patel
Starting Saturday, India will play five T20Is against Zimbabwe to kick off a new era. Although most of the transformation would go in the batting department with the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, some changes would also need to happen in the bowling side.
Jasprit Bumrah would need to be protected to keep him available for all formats. All-rounders would have to be developed to prepare solid backups for Hardik Pandya and a lot of new bowlers would need to be given the required experience.
As they try and do that, let's look at the three Indian bowlers who have been the most successful against Zimbabwe in T20Is:
#3 Ravichandran Ashwin
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's record against Zimbabwe got much better when he played against them in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, taking three wickets for just 22 runs in the Melbourne clash. After India put up 186 in the first innings and the fast bowlers took out Zimbabwe's top order cheaply, Ashwin cleaned up three wickets with his spell.
Add to that the two wickets he took in the 2010 tour of the African nation and he becomes the third-highest wicket-taker for India against Zimbabwe. The 2022 edition was probably his swan song in T20Is and now it's all about how long can he keep performing in Tests.
#2 Barinder Sran
Barinder Sran was one of the most underrated fast bowlers of his generation. Especially in IPL, the left-arm quick's skills with the new ball and old (he had some excellent variations) were too good for many an overseas batter and he played a big role in making SunRisers a formidable force in 2015 and 2016.
That brought him an India call-up, which, as is tradition, often starts with a tour to Zimbabwe or Ireland. He bowled brilliantly in both games, picking up four wickets in the first and two in the second. Some hoped for him to follow in the footsteps of Zaheer Khan but injuries and poor form in other formats derailed his career.
#1 Axar Patel
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel is India's highest wicket-taker against Zimbabwe with seven wickets in six innings at an average of 19.85 and an economy rate of 5.95. He has come to Zimbabwe for two tours (2015 and 2016) and also played the 2022 T20 World Cup game.
In all these games, he has gone wicketless just once. In his first game here, he took a brilliant three-wicket haul for just 17 runs in his four overs. And in the remaining four, he has taken a wicket each.
For a long time since then, he struggled to find a regular place in the 11 but now after an amazing 2024 T20 World Cup and Ravindra Jadeja's retirement, he should overcome that.