With less than two months to go for the T20 World Cup, it should be no surprise that even a 50-over series now comes loaded with T20 undertones. The biggest of them all, for India, is the return of KL Rahul. Thursday's match will be Rahul's first in competitive cricket since the IPL eliminator in May, following surgery and rehabilitation for his groin injury, as well as being laid low by Covid-19. Ample game time across the three fixtures at a venue where he scored his maiden ODI century in 2016 should be on the agenda for the India captain.
Another player who could do with game time is Deepak Chahar, who is coming back from an even longer injury layoff and is in a race against time to convince the Indian think-tank to keep him in their plans for the T20 World Cup. Opportunities to prove his match-sharpness in 10-over spells over the next five days could pave the way for that. He's already made it as part of the reserves for the Asia Cup, where India have picked just three quicks in the main squad (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan).
Zimbabwe too could have one eye on the T20 World Cup, harbouring hopes of advancing to the Super 12s there. They'll also perhaps, look forward to testing themselves in the 50-over format against stronger opponents than their previous ones.
The series win over Bangladesh should give them all the morale boost they need heading into this series, but are in need of a big improvement from the top-order to end their long run of defeats to India at the venue. In both their wins against Bangladesh this month, they needed the middle-order - specifically Sikandar Raza and Regis Chakabva - to bail them out of sticky situations (62 for 3 and 49 for 4). A third top-order collapse led to a big defeat. Though the gulf in quality of the two sides is vast, a quick remedy to Zimbabwe's early batting ailments will go a long way in making them competitive against a side like India.
When: August 18, 9:15 AM Local Time, 12:45 PM IST
Where: Zimbabwe vs India, 1st ODI, Harare Sports Club
What to expect: Harare is typically a batter's ally, as seen in the recent ODIs against Bangladesh too. Shikhar Dhawan too alluded to that fact, reckoning that the players will be served with 'great batting wickets'.
Team News:
India:Shubman Gill comes into this series with an impressive showing against West Indies last month and should hold onto his opening spot, which means the returning KL Rahul could slot in at #3 or #4. Deepak Chahar is fit again and should get game time this series, but it remains to be seen if he's thrust in straightaway.
Probable XI: Shubman Gill, Shikhar Dhawan, Rahul Tripathi, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav/Shahbaz Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj/Deepak Chahar
Zimbabwe:The hosts are likely to give the same top-order that played and beat Bangladesh in the 2nd ODI 10 days ago, another opportunity to impress and share the load of performance with Raza and Chakabva.
Probable XI: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Innocent Kaia, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (c), Tony Munyonga, Luke Jongwe, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi, Tanaka Chivanga
- Sikandar Raza has scored two half-centuries and two hundreds in 9 ODI innings this year. He was the leading run-getter (252 runs) and the leading wicket-taker (5 wickets) in the ODI series against Bangladesh earlier his month
- India have won 9 consecutive ODIs at this venue, dating all the way back to July 2013
"It's very good news that KL is back in the side. He's one of the main players of the Indian team and with the Asia Cup coming up, it's going to be a good outing for him. I'm sure he'll gain a lot from this tour." - Shikhar Dhawan
"I think India is a huge challenge not only for Zimbabwe but for any other team. They are playing good cricket. Missing a few guys I guess from their regular team when they are coming out here. I think there is an opportunity there but we're not too worried about India to be honest. We are worried about ourselves and our processes and us doing our things right. On a given day we can be a handful for the Indian team." - Lance Klusener in an interview with Cricbuzz.
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