India vs. Zimbabwe T20 series: Preview

Image: AFP

While India whitewashed hosts Zimbabwe in the three match ODI series, now it is time for the shortest format of the game. It is a huge relief for India as the little chinks in their inventory are not ironed out! Satisfactory performances in the one dayers have left the captious media and viewers speechless. Here we bring to you a picture of what’s following in the T20s, also a complete analysis of the two squads. All you need to know!

Talking about the two-match T20 series overall, it is not a ‘useless’ series, like most of us think. The only reason behind it is that, we will get some good performances from the young guns coming in from the Indian Premier League. Not only that, the Zimbabweans will finally get a chance to show their latent talent and gain some confidence. Though it is a second string Indian squad, it has some very good T20 players in Sandeep Sharma, Manish Pandey and others.

India squad analysis

Checking out the batters first, India has got a new savior every time. The first one dayer, saw equal contributions while, in the other two games, Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav came up with hundreds to save the team.

In the opening department, Murali Vijay was inconsistent and his scores did not do justice to his spot in the XI. Rahane left a lot to be desired, showing a mediocre attitude. He can have problems with his selection when the biggies return. The middle order was not impressive either. 

Image: Sportal

If Manoj Tiwary looked like a lost puppy, international cricket seemed unknown to him. Robin Uthappa created a doubt with his stint behind the stumps. He surely cannot do that job. Even if we ignore his keeping once, his batting cannot get him back in the team too, a cause of concern for him.

The only positive thing from the series for the Indians has been the bowling and the splendid show from all-rounder Binny. Ambati Rayudu might have got the Man of the Series award, but Binny certainly made a case for himself to win the same. He had a wonderful series with both bat and ball; he scored 120 runs —including a match-winning 77 in a close win — at an average of 60 and a strike rate of 120. He made contributions in each of the next two games as well. 

With ball he was the joint-highest wicket-taker with six wickets. On the whole, Binny was one player who will definitely make a stronger claim to be a permanent member of the ODI squad.

These guys have done their job perfectly. Pacers lead by comeback man Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, displayed a good show. While Bhajji and Kumar’s economy rate was under 4, Dhawal Kulkarni and Mohit Sharma managed it under 6 per over. Axar Patel performed well too. Sandeep Sharma failed to get a game.

India squad: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Manish Pandey, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Murali Vijay, Kedar Jadhav (wk), Dhawal Kulkarni, Sanju Samson, Stuart Binny, Mohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa (wk), Harbhajan Singh,  Manoj Tiwary, Axar Patel, Sandeep Sharma.

Zimbabwe squad analysis

Zimbabwe will rely highly on their skipper Elton Chigumbura as well as star hitter Chibhabha. These two have the responsibility.Other than that, batsmen  Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza and others. Zimbabwe have drafted wicketkeeper-batsman Charles Coventry, offspinner John Nyumbu and uncapped seamer Taurai Muzarabani into their squad, but will be without two key players for the series.

Image: NDTV Sport

All-rounder Sean Williams sustained a knee injury during the second ODI, while fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara picked up a side strain in the first match.

The good news for the hosts is that batsman Craig Ervine passed a fitness test on Tuesday after overcoming a hamstring problem that kept him out of the ODIs.Zimbabwe lost both of their Twenty20 matches against Pakistan during a recent tour, but did push their hosts close with both games going down to the final over.

Nobody can predict India winning it as the momentum has always shifted towards India in the latter part of the games in the ODIs, Zimbabwe have a strong chance too!