It was in 2010 that India and Zimbabwe played their first T20I match, and since then, India has always had the upper hand against them. For more than a decade, India has maintained supremacy over Zimbabwe, leading the head-to-head record 10-3, including just one World Cup match in 2022. Scoring 186 runs, India won that match by 71 runs.
After four years, India is going to take the field against Zimbabwe in their second head-to-head World Cup. For sure, India will have an upper hand in the Thursday night clash, but the new Zimbabwe team won’t leave India without putting in challenge. A team that no one thought would make it into the Super 8’s has joined the flag bearers of cricket, and India has to be ready for them, and there is no way to take them lightly.
Previous records
The India vs Zimbabwe series has remained a series for newcomers. Suresh Raina led the Indian team in the very first T20I clash against them in 2010. It was a 2-match series where India demolished them with ease. In 2015, captain Ajinkya Rahane and the brigade shared the series trophy with them after drawing the series 1-1.
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Then, in 2016, the series marked the beginning of KL Rahul’s international career. He announced his welcome on the big stage with style. MS Dhoni led the team and brought the trophy home with a 2-1 win.
And in 2024, Shubman Gill led the Indian team in a five-match series where India won four games, and Zimbabwe was able to win just one match.
Looking at the stats, it might seem the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe is going to be a cake walk, but interestingly, India has never been able to whitewash them in a series after 2010. That only means if everything falls into place, Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, can alter history.
If India has new stars who can light up any ground with their enormous talent, Zimbabwe also has hope and many dreams to see. For sure, when Blessing Muzarabani, Brian Bennett, and Ryan Burl take the field under the lights in Chennai, they will be looking to add that extra pace to make Zimbabwe proud.
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Probable XI
India - Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun CV, Jasprit Bumrah
Zimbabwe- Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (WK), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (C), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani
