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Sikandar Raza didn't hold back after Zimbabwe's underwhelming performance in the first T20I against India, and he made it clear that the pitch played a big part.

Batting first, the hosts could only manage 125 for 7, with their top order crumbling inside 7.2 overs. Openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran fell cheaply, and when Raza himself departed for just 4, Zimbabwe were staring down the barrel. A late rescue act from Ryan Burl (26), Wessly Madhevere (39), and Tadiwanashe Marumani (27) at least pushed them past 120.

But Raza wasn't impressed. "Not up to the standards," he said bluntly after the match. "In the morning, moisture played a part, but I didn't expect it to last that long. By the time India batted, the wicket was very true."

India chased down the target in just 13.2 overs, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashing a 19-ball 50, ably supported by Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer. Raza, however, chose to focus on the positives, praising batters pushed into new roles while making a pointed request: "Hopefully we'll get a better wicket in the next matches."

For Zimbabwe, it's not just about results; it's about having a surface that gives them a fair fight.