admin
Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
INDIA cricket team’s vice-captain Shikhar Dhawan says they are looking forward to the three One Day International (ODI) series against Zimbabwe who are currently enjoying a purple patch.
The three-match series begins tomorrow at Harare Sports Club and is part of the ODI World Cup Super League.
The other two matches are scheduled for Saturday and Monday.
Zimbabwe have had positive results in their recent outings winning the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup Cricket qualifying tournament in Bulawayo last month and recently clinched both the T20I and ODI series against Bangladesh.
India are the favourites considering the history between the two teams in their previous meetings.
However, with Zimbabwe enjoying some good form of late, Dhawan said the fact that the Chevrons won in their last outing against Bangladesh is good and means they will face a good challenge from the hosts.
“It’s a good thing that they won against Bangladesh and I am sure they are playing (some) good cricket as per the win and it’s a good thing for us. It’s going to keep us on our toes and we cannot take anything for granted or lightly.
“And we are here to perform, and as a good team, it’s always about the process whether we are playing against any team, if anything, we should make sure that we do the process right and do things right, so we end up carrying the right results and that we are going to be focused as a team to do the process right,” said Dhawan.
India will be without their off-spinner Washington Sundar, who has been ruled out of the three-match ODI due to a shoulder injury.
He is replaced by Shahbaz Ahmed.
Dhawan said it’s a sad development and they will miss Sundar but he pointed out that they have a good back-up.
“He is quite an important player and we got a replacement now. So his replacement is coming. Shahbaz is coming. But we have got other spinners as well in this side and I am sure that we have got a great balanced side.
“So we are going to miss him but at the same time we have got a good back up as well.”
India’s last tour to Zimbabwe was in 2016.
With India fielding some of their young players for this tour, Dhawan believes it’s good exposure for both sides.
“It’s good for them (Zimbabwe) as well to play against such a quality side and it will give them confidence and it’s good for us.
“We have got young boys out there, it’s good for us to try all the young guns and then back to challenge for us to win the series out there, coming and playing on different conditions. So, it’s a good exposure for both sides and it’s good for cricket.
“And that’s how even Zimbabwe is going to get better, then they are going to play against quality sides that’s how they are going learn, even the youngsters from the opposition side as well,” said Dhawan.
The India vice-captain said Zimbabwean cricket fans should expect a good show during the series.
“For the fans, I am sure we are going to give them a good show and it will be good for them, good for us as well. Wherever we go we get so much support and for the Indian fans coming over here, it will be good for them as well to see their country’s players playing over here, so it’s good, and it’s a win-win situation for both of us.”
India have had the upper-hand against Zimbabwe looking at their previous meetings where they have won most of the matches against the latter.
Online Reporter