India vs Zimbabwe 2013: 1st ODI - Heroes of the day

After a short rest period, the Men in Blue were back on the field for a three-match ODI series with Zimbabwe. With most regular players opting for a break after playing non-stop cricket for close to two months, it was heartening to see some fresh faces in the side.

Batting first, Zimbabwe posted 228/7 in their 50 overs, with both openers giving their side a steady start. India struck at regular intervals just as the batsmen were beginning to cut loose. Overall, the bowling performance was satisfactory barring a few.

India weathered a brief collapse before recovering through a century stand between skipper Virat Kohli and debutant Ambati Rayudu. They eventually completed a 6-wicket victory with 5.1 overs to spare, and thus went 1-0 up in the series.

Here are the Heroes for the Day:

Sikandar Raza

1. Sikandar Raza (82 runs off 112 balls – 6 fours, 2 sixes; 1 catch)

The Pakistan-born right-handed opener played a very steady knock as he went about his task of steering Zimbabwe to a fighting total. He shared a 72-run opening stand with Vusimuzi Sibanda (34), before cutting loose after reaching his maiden ODI fifty. He hit the wayward Vinay Kumar for two towering sixes during the mandatory batting Powerplay, raising a quick 43-run partnership with skipper Brendan Taylor (12), before becoming the second of leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s three wickets.

With India 13 runs short of victory, Raza took a smart catch in the deep off Prosper Utseya to send back the dangerous Suresh Raina for a duck. He is a terrific prospect for the Zimbabwe side.

Elton Chigumbura

2. Elton Chigumbura (43 n.o. off 34 balls – 6 fours, 1 six; 1/30 in 5 overs)

The former skipper is known to be a very powerful striker of the ball, especially towards the end of the innings. He got the ball rolling with a powerful boundary off Shami Ahmed to a length delivery on off stump. One ball later, he hit the same bowler for another boundary through the covers. Chigumbura then slammed consecutive boundaries off Vinay Kumar before meting out the same treatment to Mishra and debutant Jaydev Unadkat. The all-rounder even managed to tonk the hapless Kumar for a massive six over mid-wicket.

With the ball, Elton picked up the wicket of opener Rohit Sharma by inducing a faint edge that carried to wicket-keeper Brendan Taylor. Nevertheless, he proved to be a bit expensive, conceding 30 runs off his 5 overs as India coasted to an easy win.

Amit Mishra

3. Amit Mishra (3/43 in 10 overs)

The Haryana leg-spinner, returning to the ODI side after a considerable period of time, made a wonderful start to the series with three wickets. He dismissed Vusi Sibanda with a well-flighted googly that turned back in and trapped him in front of the wicket. Next, he castled Hamilton Masakadza after the batsman tried to give him the charge. Finally, he removed the impressive Sikandar Raza with a full, flat delivery that crashed into the stumps. A great start for the leg-spinner after being out of the side for a long time!

Virat Kohli

4. Virat Kohli (115 runs off 108 balls – 13 fours, 1 six)

The Indian captain does extremely well whenever India have to chase targets. Coming in at the fall of Shikhar Dhawan‘s wicket with the score at 26, Kohli proceeded to play a spectacular innings, putting all his strokes on display as he went about chipping at the Zimbabwe total. He added a steady 31 with Rohit Sharma for the second wicket before joining hands with debutant Ambati Rayudu (63 not out) in a rollicking 159-run partnership that almost sealed the deal for India. In the process, he recorded his 15th ODI century before becoming the first of off-spinner Prosper Utseya’s two wickets. Excellent stuff from the young skipper!

Ambati Rayudu

5. Ambati Rayudu (63 not out off 84 balls – 4 fours)

One of the mainstays of the Mumbai Indians‘ batting lineup, the Hyderabadi wicket-keeper batsman finally made his long-awaited debut in ODIs. Rayudu played a sensible knock as per the circumstances, scoring his maiden ODI half-century in a 159-run partnership with his captain. To complete a dream debut, he hit the winning boundary, handing his side a 1-0 lead in the series. He should have made his presence felt in the ODI side a long time ago, but better late than never!