WhatFirst match of the two-T20I series between Zimbabwe and India
WhenJuly 17, Friday, 16:30 IST | 11:00 GMT
WhereHarare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe
The TeamsZimbabweAfter suffering a whitewash in the ODI series, the only way to go for Zimbabwe is up. And they have an opportunity to do so in the format where form matters least. One area the hosts were found wanting in during the ODI series was their inability to strike the final blow after being in the driver’s seat. They had India in trouble with quick early wickets in two of the three ODIs but then let a big partnership take the advantage away. With the batsmen going into a T20 game with a more attacking approach, the Zimbabwe bowlers could lift their game up and not let one man take the game away from them.
Their bigger worry in the last three matches has been their batting. There have been no solid partnerships and hence, no able ally for the one set batsman. They did not have a good start in any of the ODIs and that is something they have to fix in the T20s. The openers’ role becomes more critical in this format as there is hardly any time to recover from early blows. Chamu Chibhabha, with his back-to-back fifties, has shown that he can shoulder the responsibility for the team’s good start. If he carries his form in the shortest format and has another top-order batsman for company for long enough, Zimbabwe can put up a better fight with the bat.
IndiaThe young Indian team led by Ajinkya Rahane is high on confidence and spirit after their handsome 3-0 victory in the ODI series. It is now to the format most of these guys have had good exposure to through playing in the IPL alongside some of the world’s best cricketers. The team has had a two-day break after the ODI series, which they have utilized to recover, relax and get into the T20 mode.
There are hardly any selection headaches for the Indian captain going into the first T20I. Manish Pandey was given his international debut in the third ODI due to Ambati Rayudu’s injury and he delivered with a fine knock of 71. It would be fair to assume that he will retain his place in the side in the firs T20 and that Sanju Samson will have to wait.
On the bowling front, there could be some changes with the fast bowling attack. Sandeep Sharma’s wait to don his first India cap could be over on Friday is the team management decides to use the two T20Is as a means to give the youngsters some exposure.
Key players
ZimbabweChamu Chibhabha is coming off knocks of 72 and 82 in the second and third ODIs respectively and his confidence will be high going into the shortest format. He was Zimbabwe’s most assured looking batsman in the 50-over games. If he can up the ante in terms of his strike-rate, which was in the 70s in both his innings, he can be a thorn in India’s flesh.
IndiaStuart Binny played his all-round role with great effect in the ODI series with 151 runs and six wickets. He is capable of striking it big in the 20-over format and has the knack of picking up wickets with his tidy medium pace bowling. In the absence of some of the first-choice members of Team India, Binny got an opportunity to play a bigger role and he grabbed it well. He could be India’s trump card going into the T20s as well.
Statistics
Head to head
|
Mts
|
India won
|
Zimbabwe won
|
NR
|
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
Last meeting between both sides:June 13, 2010 at Harare
Zimbabwe 140-5 (20 overs), India 144-3 (18 overs). India won by 7 wickets.
Form guide (most recent listed first):India: L, L, W, W, W
Zimbabwe: L, L, W, W, L
Result summary at Harare:
|
Matches
|
Won by side batting 1st
|
Won by side batting 2nd
|
|
8
|
5
|
3
|
Pace vs Spin at Harare (who has been more effective)
|
Wkts
|
Avg
|
SR
|
RPO
|
Best
|
|
Pace
|
43
|
32.27
|
23.69
|
8.17
|
3-15
|
|
Spin
|
37
|
23.89
|
20.56
|
6.96
|
4-10
|
Average first innings score at Harare: 155
Average second innings score at Harare: 135
TriviaZimbabwe have never won a series comprising two or more T20Is, in nine such attempts.
Among all major teams India have the best winning record batting second. Zimbabwe have the worst!
A win in this match will make Ajinkya Rahane only the second Indian to win both his maiden ODI and T20I as captain.
SquadsZimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (Captain), Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.
India: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Murali Vijay, Sanju Samson, Manoj Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Harbhajan Singh, Axar Patel, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma.
