Last Update on: August 22nd, 2022 at 09:30 am
India and Zimbabwe will meet in the third and final ODI of the series. ZIM vs IND 3rd ODI is scheduled to be played on Monday (August 22) at the Harare Sports Club, the same venue for the first two ODI matches.
India crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the first ODI and repeated a similar defeat in the second game by five wickets to seal the series 2-0. The visitors will eye for another whitewash in the African nation, but for Regis Chakabava and his men, the search for a consolation win will be the motive.
During India’s last three visits to Zimbabwe (2013, 2015 and 2016), the results have been swept against the hosts.
India
Indian bowlers have been on the top of their game, particularly the seam bowlers. If Deepak Chahar’s 3/27 on return to ODI cricket helped India to bowl out Zimbabwe for 189, then Shardul Thakur, who replaced Chahar in the second game, registered 3 for 38 from seven overs to give the hosts another taste of bowling supremacy.
Indian openers Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan looked solid in the first game with brisk half-centuries. Both the batters returned with the exact figures of 33 apiece in the second game.
India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul will have one last opportunity to bat ahead of the Asia Cup 2022. In the first ODI, the Karnataka player sacrificed the opening slot to accommodate Gill and Dhawan. Players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Avesh Khan and Shahbaz Ahmed could be handed an opportunity given that India have won the series.
India ODI squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Shikhar Dhawan, Deepak Hooda, Shahbaz Ahmed, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar.
Zimbabwe
The top order of Zimbabwe including Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Wessely Madhevere have been under fire in the series so far. One of them needs to play a big match inning to fancy the chance of posting a huge score.
Sean Williams (42) and Ryan Burl (39) contributed with essential runs in the middle during the second ODI. The hosts haven’t been able to combine with big partnerships and that is something they must build on in the final game.
Besides Luke Jongwe’s couple of wickets in the last game, there is nothing for Zimbabwe to look at with their bowling performance in this series. Picking early and regular wickets will only put pressure on the opposition and ultimately determine their chances of a victory.
Zimbabwe ODI Squad: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Brad Evans, Tony Munyonga, Regis Chakabva, Clive Madande, Tanaka Chivanga, Luke Jongwe, John Masara, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Donald Tiripano.