Zimbabwe go up against India in the 1st ODI on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at the Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe. The match will begin at 12:45 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
The Zimbabwean cricket team come into the series having beaten Bangladesh 2-1 in both ODIs and T20Is. Sikander Raza was the standout player for Zimbabwe for having scored 252 runs and for picking three wickets in the ODIs. However, the Chevrons lost the final match to Bangladesh by 105 runs.
The Indian cricket team beat West Indies 3-0 in their last ODI Series. Shubman Gill scored 205 runs in the series for India while Shardul Thakur picked seven wickets. The Men in Blue are currently third on the ICC Men’s ODI Team rankings while Zimbabwe are 13th.
India’s Washington Sunder has been ruled out of this series due to a shoulder injury and will be replaced by Shahbaz Ahmed. Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Deepak Chahar are all set to make their comeback after being out injured.
Zimbabwe vs India 1st ODI odds
10CRIC odds: Zimbabwe: 9.52, India: 1.054
Parimatch odds: Zimbabwe: 9.20, India: 1.05
Betway odds: Zimbabwe: 9.00, India: 1.05
1xBet odds: Zimbabwe: 10.00, India: 1.068
Note: Odds are subject to change. Please visit betting sites to check and confirm the latest odds.
Zimbabwe vs India head-to-head in ODIs
India have won 51 while Zimbabwe have 10 out of the total 63 matches played; two matches have ended in a tie.
India beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in their previous ODI series in 2016.
Zimbabwe last beat India in ODIs back in 2010. Brendan Taylor scored 74 runs with the bat as the Chevrons beat India by seven wickets.
Zimbabwe vs India squads
Zimbabwe: Regis Chakabva (captain and wicketkeeper), Tanaka Chivanga, Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Ryan Burl, Innocent Kaia, Kaitano Takudzwanashe, Clive Madande, Wesley Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, John Masara, Tony Munyonga, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Donald Tiripano
India: KL Rahul (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar.
Zimbabwe vs India 1st ODI probable playing XI
Zimbabwe: Regis Chakabva (captain and wicket-keeper), Innocent Kaia, Milton Shumba, Sikandar Raza, Wesley Madhevere, Ryan Burl, Milton Shumba, Donald Tiripano, Richard Ngarava, Luke Jongwe, Victor Nyauchi.
India: KL Rahul (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
Zimbabwe vs India 1st ODI combined fantasy XI
KL Rahul (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Innocent Kaia, Regis Chakabva (wicketkeeper), Sikandar Raza, Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav, Donald Tiripano, Richard Ngarava.
Zimbabwe top picks vs India 1st ODI
Innocent Kaia: The 30-year-old batter has scored 245 runs in six matches in ODIs at an average of 40.83. Kaia recently scored 110 runs in the first ODI against Bangladesh. The right-handed batter has a strike rate of 71.22 in this format.
Sikandar Raza: The southpaw has been Zimbabwe’s most dependable batsman in recent times and will play a crucial role in the upcoming ODI series against India. Raza has scored 3483 runs in this format at an average of 37.05. The left-handed batter has smashed five centuries and 20 half-centuries in 112 ODI innings. Raza scored 252 runs in the last series against Bangladesh including two centuries. He also picked five wickets with the ball in the last series.
India top picks vs Zimbabwe 1st ODI
KL Rahul: The 30-year-old batter will be making his return to the Indian side after being out injured. Rahul has scored 1634 runs in 42 ODIs at an average of 46.68. He has hit five ODI centuries and 10 half centuries. The right-handed batter has a strike rate of 88.61 in this format.
Shikhar Dhawan: The left-handed batter has scored 6493 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 45.61. Dhawan has a strike rate of 92.53 and has also smashed 17 centuries in this format. The Southpaw scored 168 runs in three games in the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies.
Zimbabwe vs India 1st ODI prediction
India are favourites going into the first game of the series against Zimbabwe. The visitors are a much stronger side as compared to the Chevrons and are likely to win this series 3-0.
Zimbabwe have a bunch of talented players but lack the firepower to beat a strong side like India.
Zimbabwe vs India 1st ODI playing conditions and weather report
Maximum Temperature: 22°C
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 45%
Wind: 10 km/h