Zimbabwe vs India Prediction: Zimbabwe lead the series 1-0

Zimbabwe and India are going head to head in Match 2 of the T20 Series at Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe on 07 July 2024. Zimbabwe surprised everyone by winning the first game of the five-game series. Who will win this game of cricket?

Captain Sikandar Rha will be pleased with his team's performance in their opening match against India. Zimbabwe were down and out in the middle phases but a strong performance by the bolwers turned around the game for them and they won the game by 13 runs. Wessly Madhevere and Innocent Kaia are set to open the innings for Zimbabwe. Despite not scoring in the match, Kaia brings to the table 167 runs from his last 10 innings with a strike rate of 123.10. Brian Bennett will bat at number three, possessing 249 runs in his recent 12 innings, including the second-highest strike rate of 135.32 among the Zimbabwean batsmen.

Leading the middle order, Sikandar Rha alongside Dion Myers and Johnathan Campbell will fortify the lineup. Rha stands as Zimbabwe's top run-getter since last year, amassing 705 runs in 20 innings at a striking rate of 143.58, which includes eight fifties. The all-rounder has also taken 25 wickets over the same period with an economy rate of 6.69. Myers, who debuted in the first game, contributed 23 runs.

Tendai Chatara will spearhead the bowling attack, flanked by Wellington Masakadza and Luke Jongwe. Chatara has claimed 14 wickets in his last 10 games, averaging 16.50. There is speculation around whether Richard Ngarva will return to the lineup. Ngarva holds the record for most wickets for Zimbabwe since the beginning of last year, with 31 wickets in 21 innings at an impressive economy rate of 6.15.

Wessly Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara.

India 2.0 could face challenges emulating the achievements of the seniors who triumphed at the T20I World Cup. In their inaugural match, newcomers Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel were handed their debuts but failed to make a significant impact. Shubman Gill is set to open with Abhishek Sharma, who was dismissed for a duck in his first outing. However, the captain contributed a respectable 31 runs. Gill boasts 366 runs from his previous 15 T20Is with a strike rate of 142.96. Following them will be Ruturaj Gaikwad, batting at number three, who has amassed 372 runs in his last 10 innings with a strike rate of 144.74.

Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, and Dhruv Jurel will strengthen the middle order, although none reached double figures in their initial game. Rinku Singh, who was part of the reserve squad during the World Cup, will particularly hold the fans' attention with 356 runs at a strike rate of 174.50 and an average of 71.20 from his last 12 innings. Washington Sundar will be the sole all-rounder, having scored 87 runs and taken 10 wickets in his recent appearances, with an impressive economy rate of 6.21.

The pace attack will be led by Mukesh Kumar, alongside Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed, both of whom have an economy rate over 9, potentially making it tough for India to contain Zimbabwe's batters. Ravi Bishnoi, who claimed four wickets in their last match, is another player to watch.

Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed.

Despite India's defeat in the opening match, they are well-positioned to secure a victory in the upcoming game. The Indian batting lineup, seasoned through their diverse IPL experiences, faces a crucial opportunity to demonstrate their prowess on the international stage. While Sikandar Raza has shown good form, his team's inconsistent performance makes them less dependable. Our forecast suggests that India is likely to overcome Zimbabwe in this contest.