Kenya’s captain speaks on team missing Cricket World Cup spot
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 03.10.25. | 16:31
Kenya, having won the toss, elected to bat, setting a meagre total that was easily eclipsed by the strong hosts
Kenya men's national cricket team captain Dhiren Gondaria has admitted that his team was outplayed by Zimbabwe in their decisive 2026 Men's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers semifinals at Harare Sports Club on Thursday, 2 October.
Playing for a slot at the global showpiece in India and Sri Lanka next year, Kenya were left stunned, losing by seven wickets to leave their hopes of making it to their first T20 World Cup since 2007 in tatters.
Such was the domination the hosts displayed in the afternoon contest, that they won with 30 balls to spare, having been set a meagre target of 123.
Speaking after the defeat, Gondaria lamented his side's dismal first innings, where the Kenyan batters struggled to build a steady partnership against The Chevrons group of class bowlers.
"Its heartbreaking to lose this way, but they just outplayed us," Gondaria said.
In building their 122-6 total, Kenya, for the umpteenth time, lost their openers so easily, with Gondaria going out for one, while Pushkar Sharma managed only 11.
Former captain Rakep Patel was the only dependable scorer hitting a 47-ball 65, but his efforts were derailed by his strike partners falling by the wayside.
Sachin Bhudia and Sukhdeep Singh combined for only seven runs, and Sachin Gill's 19 counted only as consolation.
On the team's batting, Gondaria said: "T20 is all about two to three guys, not one guy.
Obviously, Rakep needed support, but unfortunately, no one stood up. That is where the game was lost."
Apart from their batting woes, Kenya also saw its bowling unit disintegrate, allowing the run-chase to be completed in just 15 overs.
Gondaria, in his pre-match comments, had expected the wicket to be slower in the second innings but was proved wrong.
Zimbabwe's skipper, aware of his surroundings, thought differently, and he ended up on the winning side.
"I thought the bowlers bowled really well," Sikandar Raza said. "I did not think the pace was going to go down that quickly and did really well."
Having missed out on a spot last year, Zimbabwe will now join Namibia in the World Cup next year. Kenya, on the other hand, stare at the abyss.
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