Top-order batter Shubman Gill revealed that the advise he received from Yuvraj Singh helped him get to his maiden ODI hundred against Zimbabwe on Monday.Gill missed out on a century in the series against West Indies when he remained not out on 98, but got to the landmark against Zimbabwe as he recorded the highest score by an Indian in the African nation with a match-winning 130 off 97 balls.&quot;I just met him (Yuvraj) before coming to Zimbabwe and he just told me that you&#39;re batting well and just go there and when you&#39;re set, look to bat through,&quot; Gill told BCCI.tv.&quot;I was telling him &#39;100 nahi aa raha&#39; (I&#39;m not getting that hundred). And his reply was &#39;don&#39;t worry, it&#39;ll come&#39;.&quot; <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">From a maiden international 💯 &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YUVSTRONG12</a>&#39;s special message to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a>&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZIMvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZIMvIND</a> ODI series win. 👌👌 Man of the moment <a href="https://twitter.com/ShubmanGill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShubmanGill</a> chats with <a href="https://twitter.com/ishankishan51?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ishankishan51</a>. 👏 👏 - By <a href="https://twitter.com/ameyatilak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ameyatilak</a> P.S. <a href="https://twitter.com/SDhawan25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SDhawan25</a>&#39;s special appearance 😎 Full interview 🎥🔽<a href="https://t.co/qTzrBaEA6q">https://t.co/qTzrBaEA6q</a> <a href="https://t.co/GWYZEU5HeF">pic.twitter.com/GWYZEU5HeF</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1562039450699440128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a></blockquote> Gill finished the series with 245 runs from three matches as India wrapped up a thriller by 13 runs to sweep the series 3-0.&quot;It was a good wicket to bat on, I got your company and luck was in my favour and it was important for me to make the most of the opportunity and I am happy I did that,&quot; he told Ishan Kishan who scored 50 in the match as India post 289/8 in 50 overs.Zimbabwe came close to pulling off a win in the third match after Sikandar Raza scored a superb 115 off 95 balls. But Gill&#39;s catch of the allrounder in the 49th over tilted the match in India&#39;s favour.&quot;The game was pretty tight. We didn&#39;t expect the game to go this deep but this is what cricket is about. When the ball went in the air, first I was thinking, &#39;ok, it&#39;s going to come to me at an easy pace&#39;. But the ball was dipping and I was like &#39;it shouldn&#39;t fall down&#39;. So I just dived to take the catch,&quot; Gill said.(With inputs from PTI)Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Shubman Gill scored 130 off 97 balls in the third ODI against Zimbabwe as India won the match by 13 runs

Shubman Gill

Yuvraj Singh

India tour of Zimbabwe, 2022

India

Yuvraj assured me that my hundred will come, reveals Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill&#39;s strength against spinners and ability to play very few dot balls has helped him garner runs a rapid pace in ODIs, according to teammate Axar Patel. Gill scored his maiden ODI hundred on Monday against Zimbabwe in the third ODI at Harare as India won the match by 13 runs and swept the series 3-0.Gill, who made his ODI debut in 2019, has played just nine matches in the format but has already amassed 499 runs at an average of 71.29 and a impressive strike rate of 105.3.&quot;The way he converts singles and doubles and doesn&#39;t play too many dot balls. I think that&#39;s his biggest strength,&quot; Axar said of Gill, who scored 130 off 97 balls.&quot;He plays spinners very well and particularly the sweep shot. That&#39;s why he is able to get runs in the middle overs. That&#39;s why he scored runs in the West Indies series and here as well.&quot; he added.Axar, who has played alongside Gill at junior level, said that the 22-year old is a cool character in the dressing room.&quot;He keeps on joking with me, Avesh and Ishan but gets serious once he starts batting,&quot; he said.Despite setting a big target of 290, India were pushed to the limit by Sikandar Raza&#39;s counterattacking 115 who added 104 runs for the eighth wicket alongside Brad Evans (28). Axar felt that his team had faith in their plans which paid off at the end.&quot;We thought we had the game in the bag after taking few wickets at the start. But the way Sikandar Raza was batting at the end, we knew we had a challenge in our hands. We backed our plans and you could see how well Avesh Khan was able to execute his yorkers at the end,&quot; he said.&quot;The way Brad Evans bowled was really good. At the death, he varied his pace which was very impressive,&quot; Axar said of Evans who claimed 5-54.Axar, who received chance to play in back-to-back series, also spoke about making the most of his limited chances.&quot;It is very tough that you play a couple of games and then are out of the team. I always tell myself before each game that &#39;this is your only chance. If you play well, you&#39;ll get the chance for another.&#39; It is easier when you take it positively,&quot; he said.Speaking about the nature of the pitch in the third ODI, Axar said: &quot;I think the pitch was dry today and there was something for the spinners. It was holding well and the stump to stump line which worked well for me.&quot;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

The left-armer also spoke about his performances in the series as well as Shubman Gill's contributions

Axar Patel

Zimbabwe

Playing very few dot balls is Gill's strength: Axar Patel

Zimbabwe showed no fighting spirit in the first two One-Day Internationals but Sikandar Raza and Brad Evans had other ideas in the final encounter on Monday (August 22). India were tested to their limits in the third ODI but the hosts floundered just before getting over the line. Raza and Evans tried their best but Zimbabwe still fell short by 13 runs, allowing India to complete a 3-0 whitewash.The Men in Blue came to Zimbabwe with the hope of giving some of their players some much-needed game time but not everything went as they would have liked. KL Rahul, Deepak Hooda and Avesh Khan, who are part of the Indian squad for the Asia Cup, didn&rsquo;t have a great series. However, there were some major positives too. Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj were impressive but it was Shubman Gill who had a series to remember.Here are some of the major talking points to emerge from the three-match series.Should India be concerned about KL?<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661186864832-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">These three ODIs were supposed to serve as a warm-up for Rahul but things didn&rsquo;t quite go as planned for the Karnataka batter. The 30-year-old, who hadn&rsquo;t played any professional cricket since May, was hoping to get some match practice ahead of the Asia Cup but could only manage 31 runs at an average of 15.50 and a strike rate of close to 60.Rahul, who is a middle-order bat in the 50-over format, didn&rsquo;t get a chance to bat in the first ODI and rightly promoted himself to open in the second encounter. However, he was trapped plumb in front by Victor Nyauchi for just 1. With India batting first in the final ODI, the right-hander had a better opportunity to build his innings, but never looked comfortable in the middle.Rahul crawled to 30 off 46 before dragging one of Brad Evans&rsquo; deliveries back onto the stumps. As expected, he looked rusty throughout his stay in the middle and the team management would now hope that he returns back to his best in the Asia Cup. In Rahul and Virat Kohli, India have two batters in the top-three who are struggling for runs and this could prove to be a major concern for the Men in Blue ahead of the two upcoming big events.Gill is tailor-made for ODIs<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661186804845-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Shubman Gill and the 50-over format are a match made in heaven! The flamboyant youngster from Punjab is yet to stamp his authority in Test cricket, while his strike rate in the T20s will always raise question marks. However, you see him bat in the 50-over format and everything about him and his approach seems perfect.&nbsp;The stylish right-hander has only featured in nine ODIs but already has 499 runs at an average of 71.29 and a strike rate of 105.3. In fact, no other Indian batter has scored more runs than Gill in their first nine ODIs. He made his ODI debut in New Zealand in 2019 but could only manage scores of 9 and 7 in his first two matches. Howbeit, in his next seven innings, Gill has slammed 33, 64, 43, 98*, 82*, 33 and 130 respectively.&nbsp;Prior to this encounter, the 22-year-old had seven fifties in international cricket but was yet to touch the triple-figure mark. He missed out on a century by just two runs in West Indies, while didn&rsquo;t have enough runs in the first ODI against Zimbabwe to reach the landmark, but such wasn&rsquo;t the case on Monday. Gill scored 15 fours and a six in his 97-ball 130 - the highest ODI score by an Indian in Zimbabwe - and completed his maiden international ton.The likes of Shikhar Dhawan (58.82), Rahul (65.22) and Ishan Kishan (81.97) all operated at a below-par strike rate but Gill looked in perfect touch from the word go. Apart from Sikandar Raza (18 off 24 balls), his strike rate against every other Zimbabwean bowler was above 125. No matter what length Zimbabwe seamers bowled, Gill had little trouble finding the boundary ropes.&nbsp;All the focus in the next few months is going to be on the T20 format but once the showpiece event in Australia is over, the team management will have to start thinking about the 2023 ODI World Cup. As of now, Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are the incumbent openers but it would be challenging for the management to ignore Gill with the kind of numbers he is putting up. Gill ended the series with a strike rate of above 120, while Dhawan operated at just 76.23. Gill&rsquo;s versatility makes him an exciting option and that will put Dhawan under a bit of pressure.Raza, Evans give India massive scareIf not for these two, Zimbabwe would have once again surrendered their weapons pretty quickly. Both Raza and Evans first emerged as Zimbabwe&rsquo;s best bowlers and then put on a 104-run stand for the eighth wicket to almost snatch the game away from India. Evans (5/54) became only the third Zimbabwe bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul against India in the 50-over format, while Raza didn&rsquo;t take a wicket but conceded only 39 runs in 10 overs.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661186735995-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Zimbabwe chased down two 290-plus targets against Bangladesh but hunting down 290 against India was always going to be a massive task. The hosts were reduced to 169/7 by the end of the 36th over and it looked like they would get folded pretty quickly, but that&rsquo;s when Raza and Evans joined hands and kept the pressure on India. As expected, Evans (36-ball 28) played the second fiddle and allowed Raza to dictate terms.The 36-year-old, who has been in stunning form this year, failed to contribute in the first two ODIs but made up for it by smashing his sixth ODI century. The right-hander smoked nine fours and three maximums in his 95-ball 115 and was helped immensely by some ordinary fast bowling. The likes of Avesh, Shardul Thakur and Chahar bowled way too many full-length deliveries and Raza made them pay.&nbsp;In 12 ODIs in 2022, Raza has amassed 615 runs at an average of 61.5. He has three centuries in his last six innings and all of them have come in big run chases. While batting at five or lower in a run chase, no other batter has more centuries than Raza in a calendar year. Zimbabwe needed 15 off nine deliveries when he perished to Thakur, and only then Rahul and Co. could breathe a sigh of relief.&nbsp;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Sikandar Raza and Brad Evans tried their best but India managed to get over the line to complete a 3-0 clean sweep

KL Rahul

Brad Evans

Sikandar Raza

Rahul disappoints, but Gill and ODIs are a match made in heaven

India captain KL Rahul was happy that his team took on the challenge thrown by Sikandar Raza and Brad Evans to win the final and third ODI by 13 runs on Monday.Despite losing seven wickets, Raza (115 off 95) and Evans (28 off 36) added 104 for the eighth wicket to resurrect the chase. However, India held their nerve in the final two overs to snatch the win.&quot;We were very professional with how we played. I wouldn&#39;t say nervous but Raza and Evans took it deep. But it is good that we were challenged and the bowlers were tested,&quot; Rahul said in the post-match presentation.India came into the series with most of their regular rested ahead of the Asia Cup in UAE and swept the series 3-0.&quot;We came here with a few ideas and wanted to use these games. A few of us haven&#39;t got a game for some time and wanted to use the time,&quot; Rahul said.After electing to bat first, India posted 289/8 in 50 overs after Shubman Gill scored 130 off 97 balls and Ishan Kishan scored 50 off 61 balls. Rahul praised Gill&#39;s temperament in playing a big innings.&quot;He has batted well throughout the series and did well in West Indies and the IPL. Pleasing to the eye when he bats and good to see him use his form and score runs and good to see his composure and to show the temperament despite not having played a lot of internationals,&quot; Rahul said of Gill.Zimbabwe&#39;s stand-in captain Regis Chakabva was happy with his team&#39;s fighting performances despite the loss.&quot;India held their nerves even though Sikandar and Evans gave us the chance. Huge positives today from the bowling. The boys fought really hard on the field,&quot; Chakabva said.&quot;We talk about coming back from tough situations and Raza was brilliant. We definitely take lot of positives and look at those things down under,&quot; he added.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

KL Rahul was pleased with his team's effort in pulling off a narrow win over Zimbabwe in the third ODI

Good to see our bowlers being challenged: KL Rahul

Sikandar Raza&#39;s lion-hearted effort took Zimbabwe on the cusp of a famous victory before India held their nerves to pull off a 13-run win in the third ODI and complete a series sweep on Monday at the Harare Sports Club.The final game of the series too was heading India&#39;s way until Raza (115 off 95 balls) brought Zimbabwe back into the contest with the support of Brad Evans (28 off 36).The duo shared a 104-run stand off 77 balls for the eighth wicket to raise hopes of a memorable result against their mighty opponents. However, Raza fell to a brilliant catch by Shubman Gill in the penultimate over, as India scraped through.It was Gill who had set up the game for India as he smashed his maiden international hundred to take the visitors to 289 for eight. Zimbabwe&#39;s innings ended at 276 in 49.3 overs.Gill (130 off 97 balls), who reached a major career milestone more than three years after making his India debut, shared a 140-run stand with Ishan Kishan (50 off 61) after the visitors decided to bat for the first time in the series.Sean Williams (45 off 46) and Raza played some bold strokes early in the Zimbabwe chase. Deepak Chahar once again impressed with the new ball while left-arm spinner Axar Patel got welcome wickets in the middle overs.Chahar got his first wicket with a booming inswinger as Innocent Kaia (6) was trapped while charging down the wicket. The Indians were convinced that the full ball hit the pad first and went for a review that turned out to be successful.His opening partner Takudzwanashe Kaitano (13 off 22), who walked back to the dressing room with leg pain, returned to the middle but not for long. India spinner Kuldeep Yadav drew him forward with a wrong un that had the Zimbabwean stumped.Though Zimbabwe kept losing wickets regularly, a seasoned Raza stood strong before completing his third hundred in the last six innings. The crowd got more involved when Raza smashed Shardul Thakur for three fours in the 39th over that eventually yielded 20 runs.The Indian bowlers were found wanting with Raza and Evans collecting boundaries at will. In the end, the hosts fell agonisingly short. Opting to bat for the first time in the series, India did not have the most fluent of starts as they struggled to 63 for one in 15 overs.Both the seasoned openers -- skipper K L Rahul (30 off 46) and Shikhar Dhawan (40 off 68) -- would be disappointed at not being able to convert their starts.Coming back from a long injury break, Rahul had an ideal opportunity to get back into groove ahead of the Asia Cup T20. He played on to a length ball off medium pacer Brad Evans who ended up taking five wickets for the first time.The first hour has proved to be tricky for the batters here but with so much experience under their belt, both Dhawan and Rahul should have gone on to make big ones. Barring the stand between Gill and Kishan, not much stood out from the Indian innings.Gill, who made his ODI comeback with the series against the West Indies, was a treat to the eye during his innings comprising 15 fours and a six. The 22-year-old played shots all around, with his straight drives and cover drives standing out. Gill had a few nervous moments in the 90s before he reached the milestone.Evans appealed for a close leg before call but the DRS was turned down after UltraEdge showed that the ball touched Gill&#39;s bat before thudding into the pads. On the same ball however, Kishan was run out at the other end after he left his crease for a quick single, but Gill was preoccupied with the appeal.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Sikandar Raza scored a valiant 115 but was unable to prevent a 13-run defeat for Zimbabwe in the third ODI against India

Raza ton in vain as India sweep ODI series 3-0

As it happened: India hold their nerve to survive Raza scare

With the series already in the bag, India and Zimbabwe will clash in the final One-Day International (ODI) in Harare on Monday (August 22).&nbsp;India have won 14 continuous ODIs against Zimbabwe. The hosts last won an ODI against India in 2010 at the same venue. India, under KL Rahul, have been clinical in the series so far and will look to end it with a 3-0 whitewash. Zimbabwe have failed to put up 200 batting first in the series, but will look to put up a better show in this game, given that they face Australia in a little over a week&rsquo;s time.Ground detailsThe fast bowlers have been the wicket-takers this series, accounting for 68.2% of the wickets. They have done so at runs per wicket and balls per wicket ratio of 25.5 and 29.5 respectively. They have The spinners have managed just seven wickets in the series, but they have been a little infrequent striking once every 37 runs and 46.7 deliveries apart.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661082301552-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Even in the last three years, the fast bowlers have been dominant, picking 62.76% of the wickets. Hence, even traditionally, the Harare Sports Club has been conducive for the pacers and it would behoove you if you pick more fast bowlers in your team with a quality spinner or two.Suggested team<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661082253983-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.cricket.com/fantasy-research-center/214446/zim-vs-ind-3rd-odi-india-tour-of-zimbabwe-2022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fantasy Research Centre</a>. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.Captaincy SuggestionsFor small leagues: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Sikandar Raza (vc)For grand leagues: KL Rahul (c), Sean Williams (vc)Stats that matterZimbabwe will have to work on their scoring rate. They have scored at just 4.9 an over this year which is the worst after Afghanistan among full-members. They may have chased down 290 or more twice in the last five matches, but their run-rate batting second isn&rsquo;t great either, scoring at 5.1 an over with only Afghanistan (4.6) and Bangladesh (4.6) worse off.Even when it comes to their bowling, Zimbabwe, who have struck once every 44 runs and 47.9 deliveries apart are head and shoulders worse than the rest. The corresponding numbers for India are 26.3 and 30.2 respectively.Shikhar Dhawan has had yet another incredible in ODIs with 502 runs at 50.2 in 12 innings and is the leading run-getter for his side He may not have hit a century yet, but has hit five fifties &ndash; three of which have come in the last five innings &ndash; but he will look to work on his strike-rate which is a shade over 78.&nbsp;Sikandar Raza is head and shoulder above rest of his teammates, having scored 500 runs and with the ball has picked up seven wickets at an economy rate of five in ODIs this year. He may not have had a good series, but you cannot keep a player of this quality down for long.Grand League puntsSean Williams&rsquo; all-around show could be a handy option for Zimbabwe. He has played just five matches this year so far and as a result, has not got any momentum going for him. But he top-scored for his side in the previous side with a well-compiled run-a-ball 42 and will look to add a few more in this game. With plenty of right-handed batters in India&rsquo;s top-order, his left-arm orthodox coule be a handy option.KL Rahul has faced just five deliveries in the series and this game gives him a last chance to prove his form ahead of the Asia Cup. Since 2021, he has hit two fifties and a century in eight innings in ODIs &nbsp;and given that he will open with Dhawan, he will look to make the best of it.Here are the Top 10 Criclytics Projections:<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661082353576-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Probable XIs:Zimbabwe: Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano/Milton Shumba, Wesley Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (c &amp; wk), Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Donald Tiripano, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi, Tanaka ChivangaIndia: Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan/Rahul Tripathi, KL Rahul (c), Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel/Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj/Avesh KhanPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Here are a few tips that could help you create your fantasy XI for the third ODI between Zimbabwe and India

Shikhar Dhawan

Sean Williams

Fantasy: Shikhar Dhawan or KL Rahul, who should be your captain?

Comprehensive wins in the first two One-Day Internationals (ODI) has given India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, but in the larger context, it has given much-needed time in the middle for a few players on the fringes.&nbsp;While Sanju Samson scored a match-winning 39-ball 43 in the last game, Shumban Gill continued his excellent form. Deepak Chahar too, returned to put in a top-notch performance after months on the sidelines, along with vital contributions from Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel.They have certainly given India some options going ahead.However, the matter of concern for India is the lack of opportunities and runs for KL Rahul. Rahul was drafted late into the squad, and India would have wanted for their premier batter to get some runs under his belt ahead of the Asia Cup, which is less than a week away.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661072754308-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">While he did not get a chance to bat in the first game, he was dismissed for a single in the next outing, and this match will be his last chance to get back into the groove. India have won the toss on both occasions so far, but have chosen to field first.&nbsp;While their bowlers have done a commendable job to restrict Zimbabwe, their batters have either not got an opportunity to bat or have squandered the chance to spend quality time at the crease.&nbsp;Rahul should perhaps consider batting first if he wins the toss again, and the batters will have the best chance to make use of the time at the crease. Additionally, it will also give the bowlers a new challenge &ndash; that of defending a target.In their previous series against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe chased down two totals in excess of 290 and India batting first could be an opportunity for them to get a consolation victory.It has been a tough series for them, given that they are missing quality players like Craig Ervine, Blessing Muzarabani and many others, but there&rsquo;s no reason for them not to even put up 200 on the board in the two matches so far. After scoring two tons against Bangladesh, Sikandar Raza has scored just 12 and 16 in his two innings in the series, which has been the biggest disappointment given the expectations from him.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661072622310-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">No Zimbabwe batter has crossed 50 even once, with Sean Williams getting the closest courtesy off a 42. Their top five have failed miserably and would need at least one or maybe two of them to bat deep.&nbsp;Among the full-member nations this year, their top five batters have the lowest combined average (25.6) and lost a wicket once every 34.7, which is again the lowest among all teams. Also, overall, their batters have scored at a run rate of just 4.9 this year. Only Afghanistan, with 4.8, have been poorer. Their batting will once again be put under the scanner in this game.Given that they face Australia and T20 World Cup 2022 next, this is surely their last chance to get their combinations right.&nbsp;Don&rsquo;t be surprised if they include the likes of Donald Tiripano and Milton Shumba, who will add to Zimbabwe&rsquo;s depth. Luke Jongwe has been severely under-bowled, bowling just six overs so far in the series. With wickets of Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill in quick succession, Zimbabwe were given a window, but that was completely shut down with a 56-run stand between Samson and Hooda.&nbsp;They have been slightly better in the bowling department &ndash; another reason why bowling first could work in their favour.Zimbabwe probable XI: Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano/Milton Shumba, Wesley Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (C &amp; wk), Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Donald Tiripano, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi, Tanaka ChivangaIndia, on the other hand, could further test their bench strength. Maybe an ODI debut for Rahul Tripathi or even Shahaz Ahmed does not look to be out of question. Deepak Chahar, who missed the second game most likely as a precaution, could also find a place in the XI.Also, given that Avesh Khan, who has been picked for the Asia Cup, will hope for some game time ahead of the multi-team event.India probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan/Rahul Tripathi, KL Rahul (C), Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel/Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj/Avesh KhanPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

With the series in the bag, will we see more players getting a chance in the final game?

Regis Chakabva

Luke Jongwe

Deepak Chahar

Sanju Samson

Focus on KL Rahul as India eye series whitewash

Over the last two months, Mohammed Siraj has proved himself in the ODI format of the game for India. Not only has he been a consistent threat with the new ball, the right-arm pacer has also challenged the various batters through his time with the ball. The 28-year-old ended with figures of 1/16 in the second ODI against Zimbabwe, as India took a 2-0 lead in the series.&nbsp;&quot;In West Indies and England also I bowled well, my rhythm was good in the first match as well, so my plan was to hit an area consistently without worrying whether I will get wickets or not,&quot; Siraj said in the post-match press conference.&nbsp;The right-arm pacer has been a consistent part of the ODI setup since the England tour, playing all the ODIs that India have played over the last month.&nbsp;&quot;I just kept belief on myself, because ups and downs are part of everyone&#39;s life, so I just kept belief that I can do it no matter if it is a white ball or red ball.&rdquo;Siraj insisted that the key to his success was nothing extraordinary but bowling the right areas and building up a scoreboard pressure with dot-balls.&nbsp;&quot;So just wanted to keep hitting the right areas and bowl dot balls to build up pressure on the opposition. Starting with the new ball, I went for wickets a few times but as you know white ball doesn&#39;t swing much, so I was planning to consistently hit one area and bowl maiden overs.&quot;Both KL Rahul and now Siraj emphasised that there was no sort of panic in the Indian dressing room even when they were in a precarious position, at 100/4.&nbsp;&quot;Because the total was 160 or something. We were 100 for 4 but there was no panic in the dressing room because we needed just 40 runs after Ishan Kishan&#39;s wicket.&quot;Siraj opined that the head coach for the Zimbabwe tour, VVS Laxman has given him ample of confidence through the series, adding that the former Indian batter understands the pacer&rsquo;s skillsets.&nbsp;&quot;Laxman sir was part of Sunrisers Hyderabad (in IPL) when I was selected for the first time. He understands my skills and gives me a lot of confidence and it feels good when a coach is around.&quot;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Siraj also spoke on the confidence of hitting the right line and lengths

VVS Laxman

Mohammed Siraj

Kept believing myself regardless of the format: Siraj

Sanju Samson produced a responsible unbeaten 43 after a clinical bowling display, led by pacer Shardul Thakur, as India sailed to a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series here on Saturday.It was not quite a domination like the first ODI but the paltry 162-run target meant that the KL Rahul-led side did not have to sweat much despite a mid-innings jolt. Opting to bowl, comeback man Thakur (3/38 in seven overs) brilliantly set it up and became the wrecker-in-chief as the Indian bowlers once again came out on top to skittle out Zimbabwe for 161.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Two wickets in quick succession for India! Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZIMvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZIMvIND</a> LIVE on <a href="https://t.co/CPDKNx77KV">https://t.co/CPDKNx77KV</a> with an ODI Series Pass (in select regions) 📺 | Scorecard: <a href="https://t.co/bIA0RCKvRL">https://t.co/bIA0RCKvRL</a> <a href="https://t.co/ALgemPOUGf">pic.twitter.com/ALgemPOUGf</a>&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1560902482015899649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2022</a></blockquote>In the absence of Deepak Chahar who missed out after his exploits in the last ODI, Thakur made his presence felt and rocked the Zimbabwe top-order with his double blow in the 12th over. Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill then showed their same flair and authority, even as the duo batted in different positions this time, posting identical scores of 33.But the duo could not steer the team home this time as India endured some anxious moments in the middle following the departure of Dhawan. Luke Jongwe (2/33) produced a double blow, dismissing Ishan Kishan (6) and a well-set Shubman Gill in successive overs, to reduce India to 97 for four at the drinks break.But with just 65 runs needed from 36 overs, Deepak Hooda and Samson produced a sensible stand of 56-run together to virtually seal the fate of the match. With nine runs to win, Hooda was yorked by Sikandar Raza but Samson remained unbeaten on 43 (39 balls; 2x4, 4x6) and wrapped it up with a six off legspinner Innocent Kaia in the 26th over.Rahul&#39;s tough time out in HarareHaving posted a 192-run unbroken stand in their previous win, Dhawan and Gill did not open together this time with the skipper Rahul opting to go alongside the former. In the first ODI, Rahul, who was returning to action after nearly three months following a sports hernia surgery and a bout of COVID, chose to go with Dhawan and Gill as the two openers.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1661004208042-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">But Rahul got back to his usual slot on Saturday, only to get out LBW by pacer Victor Nyauchi after missing the line of the ball. This was Rahul&#39;s first International match since his 49-run outing against the West Indies in an ODI in Ahmedabad on February 9.After Rahul&#39;s brief stay, it was once again business as usual for Dhawan and Gill as the duo started from where they left in the first ODI here two days&#39; back. Earlier, Sean Williams played a counter-attacking knock and top-scored for the hosts with a run-a-ball 42 (1x6, 3x4) after his side was reduced to 31/4 in the 13th over.India brought in part-time off-spinner Deepak Hooda to give the much-needed breakthrough in the form of Williams who went for a pre-meditated pull to be taken at the deep square leg by Shikhar Dhawan.India&#39;s bowling effortsRyan Burl made a 47-ball 39 with three boundaries and one six but he ran out of partners as Zimbabwe could not stage a comeback. Their last three wickets fell in just eight balls that included the run-outs of Victor Nyauchi and Tanaka Chivanga.It would have been worse for the hosts had India were not sloppy on the field as keeper Samson missed one stumping and dropped a difficult catch against Axar Patel, while Kuldeep Yadav missed a sitter off his own bowling.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Zimbabwe are all out for 161! Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZIMvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZIMvIND</a> LIVE on <a href="https://t.co/CPDKNxpgZ3">https://t.co/CPDKNxpgZ3</a> with an ODI Series Pass (in select regions) 📺 | Scorecard: <a href="https://t.co/bIA0RD2F5T">https://t.co/bIA0RD2F5T</a> <a href="https://t.co/ueaU34aXq3">pic.twitter.com/ueaU34aXq3</a>&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1560936185723518976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2022</a></blockquote>Mohammed Siraj (8-2-16-1) and Prasidh Krishna (6.1-1-28-1) troubled the struggling Zimbabwe top-order after KL Rahul opted to field, which denied the batters some much-needed practice ahead of the Asia Cup. But the bowlers did not mind.On a Harare SC surface with nice carry and bounce, the duo worked up good pace, swing and troubled the openers with some good length deliveries as the hosts managed just one run from the first three overs.Siraj effected a breakthrough in the eighth over before Thakur and Krishna got into the act. Sikander Raza and Wiliams put on a 40-run partnership before Kuldeep struck. Raza tried to attack, but only managed to slice the ball for Ishan Kishan to complete a well-judged catch to trigger a collapse.The third ODI is slated on August 22.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Thakur's 3/38 provoked yet another batting failure for Zimbabwe

INDIA TOUR OF ZIMBABWE 2022

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