Published: Jun 17, 2016, 11:23 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 18, 2016, 09:08 AM (IST)
After clean sweeping the One-Day International (ODI) series, India will want to carry on this winning momentum and white wash Zimbabwe in Twenty20 International (T20I) series as well. India again play the hosts in a three-match T20I affair at Harare starting on Saturday. Zimbabwe have made a few twerks in the side bringing in some fresh faces to add another dimension to their game. MS Dhoni will have the same set of players who majorly went underutilized in batting as India’s top order were enough to give the visitors victory day-in, day-out. On the bowling side Dhoni will be pleased with his troops who struck to great line and length and bowled with much guile and accuracy. Vishal Mehra, takes a look at which battles will be re-kindle and how many new rivalries will be born in the 1st T20I at Harare. Full Cricket Scorecard: Zimbabwe vs India, IPL 2016, 1st T20I, at Harare
KL Rahul vs Donald Tiripano: Rahul has been in devastating form with the bat. His inspired batting in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earned him a place in the Indian squad. In the recently concluded ODI series Rahul was the series’ top-scorer accumulating 196 runs in just three matches. Zimbabwe will have their hopes pinned on Tiripano. Tiripano came in the Zimbabwe team in the final 3rd ODI going for 15 runs in his 5 overs. In the T20Is he has been in the higher side when it comes to economy and his average.
Manish Pandey vs Greame Cremer: Pandey was good with the bat for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2016. Pandey batted just once in the ODI series in the 2nd ODI making an unbeaten 4 to help India win the match. Pandey will look to make the most of his opportunities in the T20 series. Zimbabwe’s skipper Cremer is one of the most economical T20 bowler going around in the world. With an miser economy of 6.72 he is poised to cause some serious trouble to Pandey who has been a bit tentative against leg break bowlers early on in his innings.
Jasprit Bumrah vs Vusi Sibanda: Bumrah has been in great form in the Zimbabwean tour thus far picking up two scintillating 4-for in the three ODIs he has played so far. Bumrah has provided India a good option when it comes to death bowling and as a first change. Sibanda on the other has been Zimbabwe’s most trusted batsmen, getting 96 runs from three matches. More will be needed off him as a batsmen if Zimbabwe need to put up some fight.
Yuzvendra Chahal vs Chamu Chibhabha: Second highest wicket taker in the series Chahal has bowled with immaculate line and length to grab Dhoni’s keen eye. Chahal was the most crucial player for Royal Challengers Bangalore ascendance. Chahal picked three wickets in the ODI series will hope for his IPL form to reignite. Chibhabha has been Zimbabwe’s second best player in terms number runs, in three matches he has only scored 61 runs. Chibhabha showed sparks in between but gave away his wicket in a hurry and let the team down.
(Vishal Mehra is a reporter at CricketCountry, who enjoys his weekly dose of anime, and plays cricket once a white moon. His twitter handle is @capturethecatch )
