Zimbabwe vs India: Zimbabwe will be hosting India in a three-match ODI series in their own backyard. The first match of the series is supposedly going to kick start tomorrow (18th August) at Harare sports club. Zimbabwe has looked in fine form in their recent memorable 2-1 series win over Bangladesh in the ODI series.
India too will be confident enough with series victories over West Indies and England before this. Both sides will be looking to give it their all in the upcoming series and finish on the winning end.
With several important players missing from India’s side, it will be a tough challenge for the youngsters to resist a strong-looking Zimbabwean side in the upcoming series for sure.
Zimbabwe vs India: Gameplan
India
Gameplan: The Indian team is coming off after a convincing series win over West Indies a few weeks earlier. The team is going to remain more or less the same as compared to the one that played against West Indies in the previous ODI series.
The major addition to the side has been K.L Rahul who’s finally recovered from his injury and been able to make a comeback. Washington Sundar who sustained an injury a few days ago will not be able to feature in any of India’s matches in the series.
Spinner Shahbaz Ahmed is expected to replace him in the squad and possibly also in the playing XI for the matches. The team will look to continue its good performance against Zimbabwe too.
Possible Playing XI: KL Rahul (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson (wk), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan.
Zimbabwe
Gameplan: Zimbabwe have undergone tremendous improvements in several departments of the game in the recent games. Their convincing series win against Bangladesh was clear proof of their being back in a good rhythm.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Regis Chakabva shall be leading the side due to the absence of skipper Craig Irvine who’s out with injury. The bowling department will be missing w services of Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza who too will be missing the series with injuries.
The team altogether will look to cope with the absence of some quality players in their lineup and give their best on the field.
Possible Playing XI: Tadiwamashe Marumani, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (c & wk), Tony Munyonga, Luke Jongwe, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi, Richard Ngarava.
Zimbabwe vs India: Probable Top Performers
Probable best Batsman of the match – Shubman Gill
Shubhman Gill has been in brilliant form in the recent matches for India, especially in the shorter formats. His batting blitz in the most recent series against West Indies proves the fact as to how much significant he might be for the Indian batting order in the days to come.
His fantastic 98* in his last one-day innings shall definitely provide him with the boost to continue his brilliant run of form in the upcoming series against Zimbabwe too. The youngster will definitely be looking to make the most of the opportunity right from the first match of the series.
Probable best bowler of the match – Axar Patel
Axar Patel has been a fantastic performer for India in the recent matches owing to his brilliant all-round skills. His bowling too has been of great use to the team. His special abilities to pick wickets during the middle overs and choke the runs make him a useful player in the bowling department.
In the recent series against West Indies, he displayed amazing variations to deceive the Windies’ batters and henceforth conceded runs at a rate lesser than most others. The left-arm spinner will be eager to carry forward his good form in the upcoming series vs Zimbabwe too.
Zimbabwe vs India: Winning Prediction
Match Predictions – India to win the match
Based on the recent performances and current form that the players of both the teams are in, India in all probabilities shall emerge victorious in the first match of the series against Zimbabwe and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
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