Fit-again Chahar and Kuldeep in India squad for Zimbabwe ODIs

31.07.2022 - 07:13 channelnewsasia.com

NEW DELHI : Seamer Deepak Chahar and spinner Kuldeep Yadav recovered from injuries to feature in India's one-day squad for the three-match one-day international (ODI) series scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe this month.India rested several frontline players, including captain Rohit Sharma and batsman Virat Kohli for the matches which will be played in Harare on Aug.

18, 20 and 22.Opener Shikhar Dhawan will lead the 15-member squad which includes uncapped batsman Rahul Tripathi.Dhawan led India to a 3-0 ODI series win against West Indies on Wednesday.Chahar spent nearly six months on the sidelines during which he also missed the Indian Premier League.Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep has recovered from a wrist injury to return to the side but batsman KL Rahul, who underwent a sports hernia surgery and then tested positive for COVID-19, has been left out.India squad: Shikhar Dhawan (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar.

Sporting Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Prasidh Krishna Shikhar Dhawan Ruturaj Gaikwad Axar Patel Zimbabwe Washington India New Delhi Harare

The first ODI between India and Zimbabwe saw the former making it a one-sided affair on Thursday. After India's stand-in skipper KL Rahul won the toss, he opted to bowl first against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. India bundled out Zimbabwe for 189 runs, thanks to Axar Patel (3 for 24), Deepak Chahar (3 for 27), Prasidh Krishna (3 for 50) and Mohammed Siraj (1 for 36). In reply, Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill made mockery of Zimbabwe's total as they stitched an unbeaten 192-run stand for the first wicket to help India win the game with 115 balls to spare.

Watch: Ishan Kishan's Reaction To Insect Attack During 1st India-Zimbabwe ODI

The KL Rahul-led Indian cricket team had a great day at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday as they beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series. Opening batters Shubman Gill (82) and Shikhar Dhawan Gill (81) were unbeaten as the tourists knocked off a modest target of 190 with 19.1 overs to spare. The home side were all out for 189 in 40.3 overs, thanks largely to a brave 70-run ninth-wicket stand between Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans.

India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI Live Score: Focus On KL Rahul As India Take On Zimbabwe

IND vs ZIM, 1st ODI Live Updates: India face Zimbabwe in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Harare Cricket Club. India's designated captain for the series, KL Rahul is back in action after a long layoff, which included a surgery for sports hernia, and a positive COVID-19 test. India are without some of their big names, who all have been rested ahead of the Asia Cup which starts in 10 days time in the UAE. With not many guaranteed starters, India face a selections headache, especially behind sticks with Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, are also depleted, mainly due to injuries but this might be their best chance of pulling off an upset over a second string Indian side. (LIVE SCORECARD)

"Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami Will Not Be With Indian Team Forever": Rohit Sharma On Creating Bench Strength

With the 2022 T20 World Cup starting in little over two months' time, the preparations are on full swing for the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team. That India have not won an ICC title since 2013, adds extra significance to the mega-event that will be held in Australia. Considering that, Team India is playing in a series of international tours to get their act right on the biggest stage. Several young players have been given opportunities in recent times with an eye to create back-up for the senior players. Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma said that creating a good bench strength is a priority for the management.

India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, India Predicted XI: Will Sanju Samson Find A Place?

Team India is all set to face Zimbabwe in the first ODI of the three-match series on Thursday, at the Harare Sports Club. The KL Rahul-led side, which was earlier supposed to be captained by Shikhar Dhawan, will be looking forward to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series, in order to prepare for the upcoming Asia Cup. The Zimbabwe series will be seeing the return of KL Rahul in the squad, who was earlier excluded due to injury and later tested positive for COVID-19. It will be interesting to see whether Team India will include wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson in the playing XI or not.

"Not Right": Ex-India Batter On KL Rahul Replacing Shikhar Dhawan As Captain For Zimbabwe Series

Originally, it was Shikhar Dhawan who was chosen to lead Team India for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, beginning August 18 in Harare and KL Rahul was not named in the squad. However, upon recovering from COVID-19, and then being deemed fit, Rahul was included in the squad and he was also named as captain with Dhawan acting as his deputy. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has now given his take on the entire episode, saying the situation could have been avoided.