Daijiworld Media Network

Harare, Jul 10 : It is the first series for Zimbabwe at home since Dav Whatmore took over the coaching responsibilities. They have a decent side even though Brendan Taylor retired and went on to become a Kolpak player in the English county circuit. They have the experience in Elton Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza, Prosper Utseya and Sean Williams. They have a good bunch of youngsters like Chamu Chibhabha, Regis Chakabva and Richmond Mutumbami, whom they can bank on. If they play to their potential, they can cause a problem or two to the new look Indian side.

This is the first ODI where the new rules would come into effect. There need not be two catchers in the first 10 overs. There is no batting powerplay. Five fielders can be outside the circle for the last ten overs (41-50). How will these changes affect the teams?

Robin Uthappa, Murali Vijay, Manoj Tiwary and Harbhajan Singh are few players making their comeback to the team. There are also newbies like Manish Pandey and Sandeep Sharma who will be looking forward to getting their first cap. Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit Sharma are the players retained from the Bangladesh tour. The side on paper looks strong, but can they deliver the goods?. Time will tell. It is also a very good opportunity for some of them to make a statement and claim a spot in the regular ODI team.

After a humiliating series loss to Bangladesh, the Indianis are back in action and they take on Zimbabwe in their own backyard. The new look India side has a few familiar faces returning to the side. MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and few others have been rested, while Ajinkya Rahane was handed over the captaincy. Remember he was dropped for the last two ODIs against Bangladesh, so it has been a topsy-turvy last few days. Nonetheless, the new India skipper has moved on from the previous series and his focus is on the current job on hand.

Teams:

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Sikandar Raza, Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura(c), Richmond Mutumbami(w), Graeme Cremer, Donald Tiripano, Brian Vitori, Tinashe Panyangara

India (Playing XI): Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa(w), Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni

Rahane: 'We were looking to bowl. Now we need to post a good score. The wicket looks good, there is some moisture, it should remain good throughout the 100 overs.'

Chigumbura: 'We will bowl first. It's a good wicket to chase scores. The first hour will be crucial, need to make the most of the movement available. We need to play our best cricket in all departments. Hopefully, we will have a good day today.'

Zimbabwe have won the toss and have opted to field

Pitch Report: 'It looks like a fantastic ODI pitch, but it's very cold. There will be some help for the bowlers early on, with the early start. The captain winning the toss might choose to bowl first,' reckons Ed Rainsford.

Match Preview:

With a majority of cricket aficionados kept occupied with the much publicized Ashes, an Indian side bereft of its star value was put through their paces in a practice session at the Harare Sports Club. The series may have been granted low-key status amidst the sheer volume of international cricket being played concurrently, but to those going through the drills in Zimbabwe, the tour is an opportunity to lay down a marker and stake a claim for the sterner tests to follow in a hectic season of cricket.

If India win the three-match series in Zimbabwe, they will hold on to their second position on the ICC ODI Rankings. However, things are not as rosy as the table paints it. For India seek solutions to pertinent questions in the 50-over format following their shock defeat to Bangladesh last month. A slot in the middle-order, another for the all-rounder and the fast bowling places are all up for grabs. Even Ajinkya Rahane, captain for this tour, and arguably India's most improved batsman in 2014-15, was left out of the final two games in Bangladesh citing an inability to force the pace in the middle of the innings.

For Zimbabwe cricket looking to reinvent itself, India's visit could not have come at a better time. While a tour by India will most certainly fill the coffers, there is also the added advantage of good performances getting a wider audience that could set off a chain reaction leading to more teams touring Zimbabwe with greater frequency. They have their hands full this season already with the India tour followed by a visit from New Zealand and a tri-series involving West Indies and Pakistan as they look to book a place in what is increasingly likely to be a 10-team 2019 World Cup.

Start Date: 10th July 2015
Time: 07:00 GMT, 12:30 IST
Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
Weather: A sunny day with a high of 23 degree Celsius

Team News:

Zimbabwe:

Despite not winning a single game in the series, Zimbabwe's tour of Pakistan was characterized by strong batting performances. In Elton Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza, Sikandar Raza and Chamu Chibhabha - they have four solid top-order batsmen capable of giving Zimbabwe sizable totals. The bowling though remains a worry, as it was during the World Cup encounter between these two sides, earlier this year. Tinashe Panyangara has often lacked support from the other end and the Zimbabwe think-tank could consider fielding Doanald Tiripano in the absence of Tawanda Mupariwa.

Probable XI: Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura (c), Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva/ Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Graeme Cremer, Tinashe Panyangara, Brian Vitori, Donald Tiripano

India:

India have selection quandary themselves. The purpose of the tour is to identify players who could be called on to the main side for the marquee tournaments coming up. So every member of the squad is likely to get some game time. Playing both the all-rounders, Stuart Binny and Axar Patel, would result in playing one less specialist batsman or bowler. Robin Uthappa should partner Murali Vijay at the top of the order and double up as a wicket-keeper. Manish Pandey and Sandeep Sharma, in all likelihood, will make their India debut while one of Manoj Tiwary and Kedar Jadhav will take up the remaining batting slot.

Probable XI: Murali Vijay, Robin Uthappa (wk), Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary/ Kedar Jadhav, Axar Patel/ Stuart Binny, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni

Stats and Trivia:

- India have won 10 of the 15 ODIs played in Harare since 1992.

- India last toured Zimbabwe in 2013. Then, a Virat Kohli-led side swept the series 5-0

Quotes:

'The only way we can improve is by competition.India are a strong side and we will be looking to continue improving.'
- Zimbabwe Coach Dav Whatmore said he was a hopeful of the team continuing on its progressive path

'Only after the first game we'll develop an idea about what sorts of strategies we need to use for the new rules.'
- Ajinkya Rahane opined that the new fielding restrictions and free-hits for all no balls would be exciting.