India secured a convincing 42-run victory over Zimbabwe in the fifth T20I, clinching the series 4-1 with standout performances from Sanju Samson and Mukesh Kumar. However, it was Shivam Dube's all-round display that earned him the Player of the Match accolade at Harare Sports Club on Sunday. Dube's brisk 26 off 12 balls bolstered India's total to 167/6. He then made crucial breakthroughs with his medium-pace bowling, taking two wickets and effecting a vital run-out of Sikandar Raza to seal Zimbabwe's fate.
"It's always a special thing to contribute in both departments. Took some wickets, very happy. In T20s, you can struggle, but one shot and you can get back. The ground is big, we enjoy playing here, the atmosphere and the people are amazing," Dube remarked after the match.
Meanwhile, Washington Sundar, despite limited appearances in IPL 2024, played a pivotal role throughout the Zimbabwe series with his off-spin bowling, earning him the Player of the Series award.
"Good to have finished with a win. After the first game, the conditions were similar to South Africa getting that extra bounce and extra pace. We had enough time to get a lot of information. There are lots of takeaways, a lot of learnings, and a lot of confidence going into the Sri Lanka series. We had a lot of success as a team," Sundar reflected.
India captain Shubman Gill praised his team's resilience after an initial setback in the series opener, highlighting their remarkable comeback.
"A lot of the players had long flights, they weren't used to the conditions. The way we adapted was remarkable. I have been there (Sri Lanka) once for the Asia Cup, looking forward to going there and performing (later this month)."