The three-match ODI series between India and Zimbabwe will get underway on Thursday (August 18) at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. Both teams will be keen to win the series opener and make a great start to the series. This series is a part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League and the hosts will look to accumulate as many points as possible for a direct entry into the ODI World Cup next year.
The spotlight will be on KL Rahul who returns to the side after a long injury haul. 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. All-rounder Deepak Chahar will also look to get into the groove as he returns to action after a long injury haul.
Zimbabwe will be oozing with confidence having defeated Bangladesh in their last ODI series. Wicketkeeper-batter Regis Chakvbva will be leading the squad in this series with regular skipper Craig Ervine still out with a hamstring injury. Star pacer Blessing Muzarabani and spinner Wellington Maskadza are also unavailable due to different injuries.
Also Read: IND vs ZIM 2022: When And Where To Watch The 1st ODI Live?
Match Details
1st ODI – India (IND) vs Zimbabwe (ZIM)
Venue – Harare Sports Club, Harare
Date and Time – August 18 at 12:45 PM IST and 09:15 AM Local Time
Pitch Report
Harare is known for its batting-friendly wickets, as seen in the recent ODIs against Bangladesh too. It will be no different in the 1st ODI and the teams winning the toss will look to bat first given that it’s a day game.
Predicted Playing XI
India (IND): 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 (ZIM): Tadiwamashe Marumani, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (c & wk), Tony Munyonga, Luke Jongwe, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi, Richard Ngarava.
IND vs ZIM – Fantasy Team Suggestions
Fantasy Team 1: Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Sikandar Raza (vc), Tony Munyonga, Deepak Hooda, Richard Ngarava, Luke Jongwe, Shardul Thakur.
Fantasy Team 2: Regis Chakabva, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza, Deepak Hooda, Wesley Madhevere, Deepak Chahar, Luke Jongwe, Shardul Thakur.
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