Top 7 India-Zimbabwe ODI Contests of All Time
The history of Zimbabwe cricket is an interesting one, more tied up to their national politics than most other cricketing histories. Most of India will remember the shivers they gave India in the victorious 1983 World Cup campaign. Most of India will also remember the Leicester heartbreak that cost India a semi-final spot eventually in the 1999 World Cup.Interestingly, Zimbabwe was also the place where India had broken one of its longest lulls as far as away Test wins are concerned, in Bulawayo. There is plenty of history there and it is definitely worthwhile to check out the best five ODI games that these two teams, currently on opposite sides of the ranking spectrum, have dished out for the cricket lovers in both nations. But, before that let us look at the history of the two teams:India Zimbabwe head-to-headOccasionTotalWon by IndiaWon by ZimTiedIn India191531In Zimbabwe171340Neutral 211731World Cup9810For a while between 1997 and 2004, the games between the two teams were very evenly contested, with Zimbabwe going through a golden phase with some legendary players. India had a tough time back then.After that, the turmoil in the country costs its cricket too and not until recent times have Zimbabwe managed decent showings, due to an exodus of good players and lack of funds, even losing Test status for a brief while.All in all, India have a win ratio of 45/57 against Zimbabwe, amounting to approximately 80%. Previously, it was Suresh Raina who led a second string Indian side in a bilateral series in Zimbabwe. This time around, it is Ajinkya Rahane, who will be captaining a side without most of its bigwigs.Zimbabwe peaked at one point in the 90s with its golden generation that included players like Grand and Andy Flower, Heath Streak, Alistair Campbell, Eddo Brandes and a bunch of other young quicks. They got their biggest blow in recent times through the loss of Brendan Taylor who accepted the Kolpak deal.That leaves the team a little too young and vulnerable. They still do have some experience in the form of Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Elton Chigumbura. Those players might take heart from the Zimbabwe performances in some of these tightly contested games.
#7 VB series, 2004, Adelaide
Winner: India, by 3 runs
Man of the Match: VVS Laxman (131)
The period between 1998 and 2004 had some really exciting India vs Zimbabwe games and this was one of them. India scored 280 batting first after being 4 for 3 with both openers out for a duck. However, VVS Laxman scored a 138 ball 131.
He first added 133 for the fourth wicket with Rahul Dravid (56) and then another 118 with Rohan Gavaskar (54) to push India to a very good total. Zimbabwe had an equally poor start going from 14 for 1 to 46 for 3.
However Stuart Carlisle (109) and Sean Ervine (100) added 202 runs for the fourth wicket in just 34 overs to make for a tantalising chase. With 33 needed from the last 24 balls, Zimbabwe lost the plot. They could only manage 277 for six in their 50 overs, falling short by three runs, with Ajit Agarkar finishing with excellent figures of 3-39.