IND🏏VS ZIM 2022: FIRST ODI

The cricketing action got kicked off once again for India with the Zimbabwe tour, wherein the first ODI took place at Harare Sports Club on August 18. In absence of several mainstream players, a different lot got up together to bring the best for India by winning the opener by a massive 10 wickets. KL Rahul called it right at the toss and chose to bowl first where his bowlers stood tall on the occasion and wrapped up the meek-looking home side on just 189 runs. The top and middle order failed terribly for Zimbabwe, with only Regis Chakabva, Brad Evans, and Richard Ngarava chipping in with 35, 33, and 34 runs, respectively in the FIRST ODI.

Deepak Chahar, who had his game time after six months, showed no signs of rusting and rattled Zimbabwe’s top order by clinching three wickets. Prasidh Krishna and Axar Patel were no less on the day as their made presence felt loud and clear with three wickets each. When it came for India to chase down the below-average score, they took no time to finish off things in a quick procession. Zimbabwe had beaten Bangladesh in a ODI Series. This team has the potential to beat great teams, but have lacked quality cricket against To put it mildly, Zimbabwe just didn’t turn up.

The surface was a belter. Better application at the start and rotation of strike would have helped matters, but the hosts kept crumbling and quite rapidly Shubman Gill paired up with veteran Shikhar Dhawan at the top to make the target look pretty easy with some brilliant boundaries. Gill (82) and Dhawan (81) enjoyed all their time on the crease without disturbing other batters to push Men in Blue over the line in 31^st over itself in the First ODI. It was a great match for the team and all the youngsters as they would able to gain experience in the field and give their best.

K.L. Rahul after the win:- “How good as it can be, I am on the field and I am happy. We do play a lot of cricket, injuries are going to be a part of it. Being away from the game is hard. Rehab and everything everyday gets boring. We’d rather be playing 365 days than be with the physio. Picking up wickets is crucial. There was a swing and seam movement as well. But it was good see them put the ball in right areas and be disciplined. For a few of us, it is great to be back in the Indian dressing room.”

Deepak Chahar, player of the match: “The landing area was a little hard and my nails were not going in and were sloppy. When you are playing an international game after six and a half months, you are always nervous. Before coming here I played four-five practice games. But playing for the country, you wanted to do well and the mind and the body was not working together. That ball I wanted to bowl a bouncer and the spikes didn’t go through and I slipped.”

India registered an emphatic 10-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match match series. It was a dominant performance from India in all three departments as despite missing several senior players they were too good for Zimbabwe. The Indian bowlers managed to execute a collective effort as Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna and Axar Patel claimed three-wicket each, while Mohammed Siraj ended up getting one as Zimbabwe were bundled out for 189 In the FIRST ODI.

Shikhar Dhawan, who does not play all the formats and plays this format only, ask him how important this inning is for him. Every inning is like a war for him because so many players are waiting, if he does badly, then he will be out from here as well. But the guy is not giving a chance, to BCCI. Chasing the target, Indian openers didn’t have the scoreboard pressure as the in-form pair of Shikhar Dhawan (81 not out) and Shubman Gill (82 not out) knocked off the target in just 30.5 overs.

Dhawan and Gill has turned out to be a reliable opening pair for India as they have shared four hundred plus partnership in five matches they open the innings together in all the ODI they have played in. This knock would give boosts to Shubman Gill because he has not let go of the opportunities he had been given in the ODI. India has been phenomenal against all the teams except against South Africa where they had received a whitewash. BCCI and Rahul Dravid are shaping the team for 2023 ODI World Cup.