India will take on Zimbabwe in three-match ODI series starting August 17. It will be a team of mostly non regulars who will feature. The side will be led by KL Rahul, who is making a comeback to cricket since IPL 2022. Rahul was supposed to be the captain of the Indian team for the series against South Africa, but was ruled out to due to a groin injury.
He then missed the tour to England owing to the injury, and had a successful sports hernia operation in the end of June. He was supposed to feature in the squad for the series against West Indies, but again missed out due to being diagnosed with COVID-19. Rahul was then added to the squad in the tour to Zimbabwe and made the captain replacing Shikhar Dhawan, who was announced as the initial leader of the side. Rahul, after this tour will again feature in the Asia Cup 2022.
Dhawan has expressed the fact that the Zimbabwe tour will facilitate KL Rahul’s return to international cricket and will act as the perfect preparation for the Asia Cup 2022. “It’s very good news that KL is back in the side and leading the side. He is one of the main players of the Indian team. With the Asia Cup coming ahead, it’s a good outing for him. I am sure he will gain a lot from this tour,” Dhawan said in the pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s game against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe will be heading into the series against India having won both the T20 and ODI series against Bangladesh. Hence, Shikhar Dhawan has asserted the fact that they are not taking their opposition lightly.
“It’s a good thing that they won against Bangladesh. They are playing good cricket. It’s a good thing for us, it’s going to keep us on our toes. We are not going to take anything for granted or lightly. A good team always focuses on its process. We should make sure that we do our process right whenever we take on any team. Our focus will be get the wins under our belt,” Dhawan added.
