Now that he is the skipper, it looks exceedingly possible that Rahane will open the batting with Murali Vijay with Robin Uthappa batting at 5. Friday’s ODI is the first in what could be a competitive series. “They played pretty well in Pakistan, and they’ve good, experienced batsmen these days”, Rahane said. Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit Sharma are the players retained from the Bangladesh tour. “We want to play our game and back our strengths”. Ajinkya Rahane scored 34. There is a middle-order position up for grabs in the side, a handful of keen young bowlers, and clear value to be gained from a good tour for players such as Stuart Binny and M Vijay. This is a good platform to showcase our talent here, do well at the global level.
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After India’s shocking 2-1 defeat last month to Bangladesh in their ODI series there, India must now win at least two of the three games in Zimbabwe to hold on to their coveted Number Two world ranking in 50-overs ODI cricket.
Zimbabwe’s 15-man squad to take on India in Friday’s first ODI has been shorn of all-rounder Luke Jongwe after the all-rounder sustained head injuries in a auto crash. While a tour by India will most certainly fill the coffers, there is also the added advantage of good performances getting a wider audience that could set off a chain reaction leading to more teams touring Zimbabwe with greater frequency.
With a barely smaller squad for the house series, the 5 gamers dropped from the sixteen-man choice that toured Pakistan in May are Charles Coventry, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Tawanda Mupariwa and Christopher Mpofu.
ZIMBABWE: Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Tinashe Panyangara, Brian Vitori. Tinashe Panyangara starts the proceedings for Zimbabwe.
India’s bench strength will be tested when a second string team takes on Zimbabwe in a three-match One-day series beginning here tomorrow with the youngsters as well as a few seniors hoping to capitalise on the opportunity. India are a strong side and we will be looking to continue improving.’.
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– Ajinkya Rahane opined that the new fielding restrictions and free-hits for all no balls would be exciting. “New Zealand arrive around July 29 and will leave either 10 or 11 August when they go on to play in South Africa”.
