ZIMBABWE VS INDIA 2nd ODI PREVIEW : INDIA WILL LOOK TO CLINCH THE SERIES

 

 

After the comprehensive victory against Zimbabwe in the first match of 3 match ODI Series, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and company will be looking forward to seal the trophy in the second One Day Internationals itself at the Harare Sports Club, Harare, tomorrow. The history maker from India KL Rahul, who has already scored a brilliant ton in his ODI debut would want to carry his form in the second match also. He has became the first cricketer ever to score a ton in first inning as an opener in both ODIs and Tests. On the other side, Zimbabwe need to improve their batting to stay alive in the series.

India outplayed Zimbabwe in all the three departments of the match and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and co. will look to continue this momentum in the 2nd ODI also. In the first match of the series, Ambati Rayudu also played a brilliant knock of unbeaten 62 off 120 balls and with KL Rahul, he added a record 162 runs stand for the second wicket. This will be a moral boosting inning for Rayudu after being dropped from the team against South Africa series last year. In 2013 and 2015 India have registered back to back white-wash against the same side in their own den with 5-0 and 3-0 respectively with the second string team, this time around too MS Dhoni and troops is all set to replicate the same feat. Although, many senior players have been rested for this series but this young Indian side don’t seem to be in any kind of pressure in their absence as they are playing with lots of flair and enjoying each other’s company. In the bowling department too, Indian bowlers are doing a great job. If Jaspreet Bumrah registered his career best figure in One Day International of 9.5-2-28-4, Dhawal Kulkarni and Barinder Sran also took 2 wickets each. In the spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel were also prove their worth with the ball. Both of them took a wicket and also they were very economical in their full quota of 10 overs.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe looked very ordinary in the first match of the series. Although Zimbabwe have lots of quality batsmen and bowlers in their armoury but still they were too dependent on Elton Chigumbura and Tendai Chatara to do the bulk of the job. Even Elton Chigumbura, who is the most experienced player and one of the best batsman of this Zimbabwe side could not do much under pressure against some brilliant all-round Indian bowling performance as the Zimbabwe team could only manger to post 168 runs on the board, Captain Cremer will be expecting something off-note from Chigumbura going into the second ODI. Apart from this, Masakadza, Sikandar Raza, Ervine etc will also have to take responsibility if Zimbabwe have to stay alive in the series or win the series. In bowling department, Graeme Cremer (74 wickets), who is the 2nd highest wicket taker in this Zimbabwe side after Elton Chigumbura (101 wickets) are not looking in great form. Also Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams will have to find a way to stop this Indian Side.