Harare, July 27:
A dominant India will look to plug their bowling loopholes as they go into the third cricket one-dayer against minnows Zimbabwe here tomorrow with the aim of sealing the five-match series with another emphatic triumph.
India have taken a 2-0 lead on the back of an impressive show by their young batsmen and now need just one more win to take an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Zimbabwe to their credit have scored 200 plus scores in the previous two matches, which meant that both Indian batsmen and bowlers had some work to do though the matches were quite lop-sided affairs.
But it is the bowling which has been a cause of concern for the Indians with the pacers being a trifle inconsistent in both the matches.
R Vinay Kumar has proved quite expensive as he has leaked 106 runs in his 18 overs and has taken just one wicket and that too of a tail-ender. Mohammed Shami has also been far from impressive and is a big disappointment in the absence of frontline pacers, who have been rested.
Jaydev Unadkat has been the most successful with five wickets in two matches. Ravindra Jadeja continues to bowl impressively for India as he bowled miserly in the two matches even as his bat has been silent in the series so far.
Conditions and opponent may not be that difficult here for India but good performance overseas builds the confidence and that’s precisely the gain for the visitors in the series.
Virat Kohli, considered India’s future captain and new batting sensation Shikhar Dhawan have scored a century each to pilot India to two victories.
Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik too have contributed with a half-century each but neither Rohit Sharma nor Suresh Raina have been able to score much.
India would hope that these two batsmen, who are a vital part of the formidable batting line-up of the world champions, get some runs.
It will also be good for India if their young skipper Kohli keeps his anger in control. His persistent argument with officials after being given out did not give a good account of himself.
Kohli can take a leaf out of regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who remains calm in pressure situations and that has been crucial to his successful leadership.
India would also expect its new-look bowling department give a better account of itself.
Zimbabwe batsmen — from opener Vusi Sibanda to lower-order batter Prosper Utseya — have faced the Indian attack with aplomb. They have refused to be easy meat and will look to make an useful contribution tomorrow.
The Indians will like to first win the series and then give an opportunity to some of the other players who are now warming the bench.
In case India take a 3-0 lead, batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane and Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Parveez Rasool may get a chance in the playing eleven for the remaining two matches.
Teams:
India: Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Parveez Rasool, Shami Ahmed, R Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohit Sharma.
Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (C), Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chatara, Michael Chinouya, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai M’shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.
Match starts at 12.30 pm (IST). (PTI)
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