India and Zimbabwe have faced each other in 63 ODI matches. India have won 51, Zimbabwe 10 and, 2 matches have ended in a tie. In the current ICC ODI Team rankings, India are at the 3rd spot. Zimbabwe at 13th. This clearly indicates the vast difference in the quality of cricket both sides play.
The last time Zimbabwe won an ODI against India was in 2010. After that, India have had 12 consecutive victories. However, there have been instances in the past, where Zimbabwe have given tough competition to India, even emerging victorious few times.
Here we look at 5 such matches:
5) 2015 World Cup- Group Stage
Today 5 years ago,
India's biggest World Cup chase. Against Zimbabwe, they were struggling at 92/4 as Virat Kohli falls for 38.
But Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni ensure that India chase 288 without losing any more wickets. This made India complete 6 out of 6 group stage wins. pic.twitter.com/S0AgNpNazN— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 12, 2020
In the group stage match of 2015 ODI World Cup, India and Zimbabwe faced each other. Batting first, Zimbabwe posted a decent total of 287, thanks to Brendan Taylor’s century.
In reply, India looked in trouble as they lost 4 wickets for 92 runs. That is when the Raina-Dhoni duo took responsibility and added 196 runs to take India home. Raina scored a hundred (110*) and Dhoni made 85 unbeaten runs.
Result: India won by 6 wickets
4) 1983 World Cup- Group Stage
175* off 138 balls 🔥
On this day in 1983, Kapil Dev produced one of the greatest individual performances of all-time to help India beat Zimbabwe in @cricketworldcup 1983 👏 pic.twitter.com/g4H2CcGQhU
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2022
Indian skipper Kapil Dev won the toss and decided to bat first in Match 20 of 1983 World Cup. The game is best remembered for Kapil’s 175-run knock. India were struggling at 17/5 when Kapil came in and smashed 16 fours & 6 sixes. India ended up with 266/8 in 60 overs.
Later, riding on some economical spells from Madan Lal (42-3) and Roger Binny (45-2), India registered a famous win. For Zimbabwe, Kevin Curran (73 off 93) scored a fifty.
Result: India won by 31 runs
3) C.A.B Jubilee Cup (Hero Cup), 1993
November 18, 1993
The seventh tie in ODI history was played out when Zimbabwe and India couldn't be separated on 248 runs apiece in Indore. It was a hard fought result from the tourists, who were in trouble at 212/8.
India would go on to win the five nation Hero Cup. pic.twitter.com/r7olUgKEt2
— 🏏Flashscore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) November 18, 2020
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first, in Match 7 of Hero Cup 1993. For India, Manoj Prabhakar played a 91-run knock and guided India to a total of 248/5. Vinod Kambli (55) and Mohammad Azharuddin (54 not out) also smashed half-centuries.
In reply, Zimbabwe lost wickets in regular intervals. However, half century from skipper Andy Flower (56 off 82) kept them in the game. Zimbabwe needed 10 runs in the last over. Their last batting pair: Heath Streak and John Rennie, was on the crease. Manoj Prabhakar had the ball in hand.
In the first 5 balls, Zimbabwe collected 8 runs. With 2 needed off the last delivery, batters ran off a leg-bye. While attempting the second run, Heath Streak got run out and the match ended in a tie. Manoj Prabhakar was adjudged Man of the Match for his all-round performance (91 off 126 & 2/41)
Result: Match Tied
2) Standard Bank International Series, 1996/97
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first in Match 3 of Standard Bank International Series, 1996/97. Alistair Campbell played a 61-run knock and guided Zimbabwe to a total of 236/8. Paul Strang (47 off 87) and Craig Evans (40 off 32) also made useful contributions with the bat.
During the run-chase, India were in a spot of bother at 110/5. Saba Karim (38 off 46) and Ajay Jadeja (32 off 58) added 56 runs for the 6th wicket. However, soon the duo departed and India again looked in trouble at 176/7. India’s no.8 Robin Singh came to rescue. He played a counter-attacking knock of 48 runs off 31 deliveries.
India needed 2 off the last ball. Robin was on strike. Ed Brandes bowled a wide ball down the leg side. Non-striker Venkatesh Prasad sensed an opportunity to take a single. He was already half-way down the pitch before Robin could even start his sprint. The keeper threw the ball to the bowler, who ran out Robin at the non-striker’s end. The scores were level and India were All-out.
Result: Match Tied
1) Zimbabwe tour of India, 2001/02
First ODI of the 5-match series was played at Nahar Singh Stadium, Faridabad. India won the toss and elected to bat first. VVS Laxman (75 off 99) and Skipper Sourav Ganguly (57 off 70) were the top performers for India with the bat. Towards the end, Ajit Agarkar played an explosive 19-ball 40 to take the side to 274/6.
For Zimbabwe, Alistair Campbell (84 off 113) and Andy Flower (71 off 72) scored fifties, but a successful chase still looked like a tall task. At one stage, Zimbabwe were 209/8 after 44.2 overs. In came Douglas Marillier at no. 10. He attacked, ramped, scooped and ended up hitting 10 fours and 1 six to pull off an unexpected victory. For his unbeaten 24-ball 56, Douglas was adjudged Player of the Match.
Result: Zimbabwe won by 1 wicket
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