Indian cricket returns to the field as they take on Zimbabwe in a 3 match ODI series starting on Thursday. The matches will be played on 18th, 20th and 22nd with all the 3 games to be played at Harare. The Indian team will be led by KL Rahul after he gained full fitness ahead of the tour. Left handed opener Shikhar Dhawan was initially named captain of the side before the late decision to name KL Rahul as the skipper of the side. Shikhar Dhawan was the man who was taking the media questions which saw some lighter moments.
The story as it happened –
Shikhar Dhawan who was first named the skipper of the side to tour Zimbabwe later saw KL Rahul take the top spot. The left hander was the one interacting with the media just a few days ahead of the start of the short tour. Dhawan had a funny moment during the interaction when a local journalist asked him “Shikhar, how difficult is it to play a team like Zimbabwe at this moment... who have been struggling for a long period. They haven't even played much against the Indian team. Do you expect to beat a team like Zimbabwe”. Dhawan seemed lost for a moment before he said “Ah, I didn't get it. Can you repeat? I couldn't understand your accent, sir". This made all the journalists in the room have a hearty laugh.
— Guess Karo (@KuchNahiUkhada) August 16, 2022
Dhawan heaps praise on Zimbabwe –
Zimbabwe cricket in recent times have seen some success as they beat a much stronger Bangladesh team in both the ODI and T20 series. Coach Dave Houghton has thrown down the gauntlet to the home side to play with their passion and show their mettle against the touring Indian team. Dhawan during the press meet was in full praise of the home team, the opener had said “It is good that they (Zimbabwe) won against Bangladesh. I am sure they are playing good cricket. This is good for us too. It will keep us on our toes and we would not take anything for granted. We are here to perform. Irrespective of the team and time, we should focus on getting the process right so that we get the right results”
India and Zimbabwe played a lot of bilateral cricket against each other in the ODI and test format from 1999-2005 before the African nation’s cricketing downward spiral. The last time India tour Zimbabwe was in 2016 when KL Rahul made his ODI and T20 bow under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. This is India’s first tour of Zimbabwe this decade as they had toured the nation in 2010 for a Tri Nation with Sri Lanka as the 3rd team. Virat Kohli led India to a 5-0 win during the 2013 tour, while Rahane was the skipper of the side during the 2015 tour.