India vs Zimbabwe T20Is 2024: A statistical preview
Team India will take on Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series from July 6 to July 14. All matches of the series will be played at the Harare Sports Club. The games will begin at 4:30 PM IST, which is 1:00 PM local time. The series against Zimbabwe will be the Men in Blue's first assignment since their triumph in the ICC Men's 2024 T20 World Cup.
With most of the players from the T20 World Cup being rested and a few of the seniors having announced their retirement from the format, India have a rather fresh look for the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The squad will be led by young opener Shubman Gill. The 24-year-old was among the reserves in Team India's 2024 T20 World Cup squad.
Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Tushar Deshpande have been picked based on their IPL exploits in the squad which also features Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, and Ravi Bishnoi. As the young Indian team gears up to take on Zimbabwe, here's a statistical preview of the five-match T20I series.
Head-to-head India vs Zimbabwe record in T20Is
India and Zimbabwe have met each other in eight T20Is so far, with the Men in Blue having a 6-2 lead in the head-to-head numbers. The first T20I meeting between the two sides took place in Harare in June 2010, with the Men in Blue registering a six-wicket win.
The most recent encounter between the two teams took place in Melbourne in November 2022 during the T20 World Cup. India registered a thumping 71-run win in the clash. Amazingly, apart from the T20 World Cup match, all the other India-Zimbabwe T20Is have been played in Harare, which means Zimbabwe are yet to play a T20I against India in India.
Highest and lowest totals in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is
Team India's 186-5 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in November 2022 is the highest team total in India vs Zimbabwe T20I matches. For Zimbabwe, their 170-6 in Harare in June 2016 is their highest team total against India in the format.
Zimbabwe's 99-9 in Harare in June 2016 is the lowest team total in T20Is between the two sides. For India, their 135-9 in Harare in June 2015 is their lowest T20I total against Zimbabwe.
Most runs in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is
Chamu Chibhabha holds the record for having scored the most runs in T20Is played between India and Zimbabwe. In seven innings against the Men in Blue, he has scored 172 runs at an average of 24.57 and a strike rate of 104.24.
KL Rahul is second only on the list of batters with the most runs in India-Zimbabwe T20I matches. Rahul has 120 runs from four innings at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 125. Suresh Raina, Elton Chigumbura, and Hamilton Masakadza have scored 100 runs each from two, six, and seven matches, respectively.
Highest individual scores in IND vs ZIM T20Is
Raina holds the record for having registered the highest individual score in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is. The left-handed batter hammered an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls in Harare in June 2010, a knock laced with six fours and two sixes.
Chibhabha has registered the highest score for Zimbabwe against India in T20Is. He scored 67 off 51 balls in his team's 10-run win over the Men in Blue in July 2015. Chibhabha hit nine fours in his innings and was Player of the Match.
Most sixes in an innings in IND vs ZIM T20Is
Chigumbura holds the record for having struck most sixes in an India vs Zimbabwe T20I. He clubbed as many as seven sixes in his scintillating knock of 54*, which came off only 26 balls in Harare in June 2108. The 38-year-old hit only one four in his knock. Zimbabwe won the close game by two runs and Chigumbura walked away with the Player of the Match award for his batting exploits.
For India, Suryakumar Yadav struck four sixes in his unbeaten 61 off 25 balls in the 2022 T20 World Cup match in Melbourne. The right-handed batter hit six fours to go with his six maximums. India put up 186-5 batting first and won the contest by a comprehensive margin of 71 runs.
Most wickets and best bowling figures
Indian left-arm spinner Axar Patel holds the record for most wickets in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is. In six innings, he has claimed seven wickets at an average of 19.85 and an economy rate of 5.95.
Barinder Sran holds the record for the best bowling figures in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is. The left-arm pacer starred with excellent figures of 4-10 in a T20I in Harare in June 2016. In the same match, Jasprit Bumrah claimed 3-11, which is second on the list of best bowling analysis in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is.