As India embark on their tour of Zimbabwe with plenty of fresh blood enthused into the setup, albeit under the experienced guidance of MS Dhoni, they aim to look at the strength of their domestic stalwarts. This Indian squad picked for the tour has reflected the selectors' interest in rewarding domestic performers with the blue cap. In a side that features only one cricketer who has played over 100 ODIs, several youngsters would have the opportunities to cement their places in the team and become a regular member.
However, it wasn’t always the case that India featured their second-string teams against Zimbabwe. During their heydays, Zimbabwe too were a force to reckon with, albeit only for a short duration of time, and these two nations have played some memorable encounters over the years. While Zimbabwe have been considered to be one of the minnows in the international circuit for the better part of the past 10 years, they once had some limited-overs stalwarts like Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Heath Streak etc. and could pose a decent challenge to any of the top sides.
Against India as well, Zimbabwe have played some extremely competitive cricket in the years gone by, and in this piece, we try to remember and relive five such encounters.
1. India vs Zimbabwe – 1983 World Cup, 18th June 1983
The two sides met for the first time during the 1983 Cricket World Cup and played each other twice during that tournament. During then second of the two matches, Zimbabwe looked to be in for a massive upset over their relatively experienced opponents, when they reduced India to 17/5, with the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikanth, Mohinder Amarnath and Sandeep Patil already back in the hut.
It didn’t look, at that stage, that India would be able to bat out their 60 overs (ODIs used to be of 60 overs per side back then) and a massive upset looked to be on the cards. It was then that arguably India’s greatest ever all-rounder and the then captain of the side, Kapil Dev, rose to the occasion and took the Zimbabwean players by surprise through his counter-attacking, game-changing, and unbeaten innings of 175 runs off just 138 balls with 16 fours and 6 sixes. It was a complete domination by the Indian batsman and all the Zimbabwe bowlers were taken to the cleaners.
As a consequence, India were able to put up 266 runs on the board for the loss of 8 wickets in their designated 20 overs. In reply, the Zimbabwean batsmen got close to the target but couldn’t overhaul it, as they were bowled out for 235 runs in 57 overs thereby handing India the victory by 31 runs.
Result: India won by 31 runs.
2. India vs Zimbabwe – Standard Bank ODI series, 27th January 1997
In a tri-series held in January 1997 featuring India, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, South Africa held the home advantage and emerged out to be the eventual winners. The third ODI of that series was held between India and Zimbabwe at Paarl and was one of the only two tied ODIs between the two nations.
Batting first after winning the toss, Zimbabwe posted a modest total of 236/8 in their 50 overs riding on Alistair Campbell’s half century and a couple of 40s by Paul Strang and Craig Evans. In reply, India also got to the Zimbabwean total of 236, although in the very last over and after having lost 9 wickets, but couldn’t overhaul it, as Robin Singh, the Indian batsman who was at the crease along with the No. 11, Venkatesh Prasad, was run-out off the penultimate ball of the innings.
Zimbabwe’s Eddo Brandes and India’s Robin Singh were jointly awarded the Man of the Match award.
Result: Match tied.
3. India vs Zimbabwe – 1998 Coca Cola Champions Trophy final, November 13, 1998
This match has been well-chronicled in the Indian cricketing folklore as the one wherein ace Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar took on the then Zimbabwean young sensation, Henry Olonga. In the all-important final of the Coca Cola Champions Trophy (not to be confused with the ICC Champions Trophy), India won the toss and asked Zimbabwe to bat. The Indian bowlers, thereafter, bowled superbly to restrict Zimbabwe to 196/9 in their 50 overs. Javagal Srinath picked up 3 wickets while Anil Kumble picked up two.
What unfolded thenceforth was absolute carnage all around the stadium, as Sachin Tendulkar, who looked to be in an ominous mood, plundered the Zimbabwean bowling attack and massacred them for 124 runs off just 92 balls, hitting 12 fours and 6 sixes in the process. He took a special liking to Olonga, who conceded 50 runs from the 6 overs that he bowled in the match.
Sourav Ganguly, who was at the other end was reduced to a mere spectator, although he too registered a half-century and remained unbeaten on 61 runs. As of a consequence of this run-fest, India strolled to victory 10 wickets in just 30 overs, thereby winning the inaugural Champions Trophy tournament.
Result: India won by 10 wickets.
4. India vs Zimbabwe – 1999 Cricket World Cup, 19 May 1999
The 1999 World Cup saw one of few upsets of the tournament occurring in its 8th match that was held between India and Zimbabwe. An Indian team studded with limited-overs behemoths like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin, Anil Kumble and Robin Singh was bettered by a Zimbabwean side, that had, arguably, few of the greatest men to have ever featured for the country in Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Alistair Campbell and Heath Streak.
India made a series of mistakes in that game, which started right at the toss, wherein they won the toss and put Zimbabwe in. Benefiting from the contributions made by the Flower brothers, Grant and Andy, who made 45 and 68 respectively, and from the 51 extras conceded by the Indian team, they posted a respectable total of 252/9 in their 50 overs. Three of India’s top batsmen faltered during the run chase, as Ganguly, Dravid and Azhar were all dismissed cheaply, leaving too much of the job in the hands of the middle order.
Although Sadagoppan Ramesh, Ajay Jadeja, and Robin Singh tried their best with knocks of 55, 43 and 35 respectively, the lack of wagging prowess of the Indian tail and Zimbabwe’s restrictive disciplined bowling meant that India fell short of the target by 3 runs, as they were bowled out for 249 runs in 45 overs.
5. India vs Zimbabwe – 2000 ODI series, 8 December 2000
The turn of the century saw another upset take place, as Zimbabwe bettered the subcontinental giants once again, this time, in the giants’ own den. In the 3rd ODI of the five-match series held in Jodhpur, Zimbabwe defeated India by 1 wicket in a last-over thriller with just 1 ball to spare.
After winning the toss and batting first, India posted a highly competitive total of 283/8 in their 50 overs with Sachin Tendulkar hitting yet another ODI century, as he made 146 runs with 15 fours and 2 sixes. The odds were stacked against the visitors after the home side had imposed such a huge total, but one again, like they had done on several occasions in the past, the Flower brothers came to their rescue.
A couple of 70s from them – Andy made 77 and Grant made 70 – and lower order contributions from Heath Streak and Mluleki Nkala meant that the African nation just crossed the line, with 1 wicket in hand and 1 ball to spare. India, however, eventually went on to win the series 3-2.
Result: Zimbabwe won by 1 wicket.
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