'Both teams will have equal chance of winning,' says Raza ahead of T20Is against India
Harare, July 21
Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza has dismissed the thought of the 2026 T20 World Cup champions India being favourites in the upcoming three-match T20I series, saying the contest will not be one-sided and both teams will have an equal chance of emerging victorious.
Zimbabwe are hosting the Shreyas Iyer-led side, with all three matches of the series to be held at the Harare Sports Club. The first match will be played on Thursday.
India is coming to the contest after a poor show against Ireland and England. Under the new captain, Iyer, the team endured a 0-2 T20I series defeat to Ireland in Belfast before going down 0-4 in the five-match T20I series against England. India didn't impress in ODIs either as they lost the series by 2-1 under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.
"Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am very sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can say this for sure that this series will be very entertaining. I think, as far as winning or losing is concerned, which is important for both countries, I think both countries have an equal chance to win the series." Raza told Star Sports.
According to Raza, just like India, Zimbabwe is also going through a transition phase, which will make the series interesting.
"Yes, I think India is also going through a transition, and I think to some extent you'll see Zimbabwe is also going to have a little bit of transition. I don't see it will be a one-sided series," he added.
India and Zimbabwe have played each other ten times in T20Is. India leads the head-to-head record with 7 wins. Zimbabwe has won 3 matches. The last T20I encounter between the two teams took place on February 26, 2026, during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where India defeated Zimbabwe by 72 runs.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I have to agree with Raza's confidence. India's recent losses to Ireland and England show we're not invincible right now. Zimbabwe's home advantage and their fighting spirit could make this a tight contest. Though I'm rooting for India, it's good to see smaller teams getting recognition.
Honestly, I'm tired of hearing about "transition" phases for the Indian team. We've been saying this for three years now. Our batting collapses against spin in the middle overs are worrying. Zimbabwe has good spinners like Sikandar Raza himself. This series will test Shreyas Iyer's captaincy. Let's see if he can inspire the team to bounce back.
As a neutral cricket fan, I'm really looking forward to this series. Zimbabwe has come a long way from being pushovers. Players like Raza, Ervine, and Blessing Muzarabani have given them real depth. India might have history on their side (7-3), but current form leans towards Zimbabwe. Should be a cracker! 🇿🇼🇮🇳
Good on Raza for talking up his team's chances. But let's not forget: India still has quality players like Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah (if he plays). The losses to Ireland and England were on slow, turning pitches. Harare's pitch is traditionally good for batting. I expect India to win 2-1, but Zimbabwe will definitely make us work for it. Let's keep the expectations realistic and support the team! 🇮🇳
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