HARARE: India’s fringe players will have the opportunity to showcase their talents when they take on an improving Zimbabwe side in a three-match one-day international series, which starts on Friday.

With India resting seven players for the tour, including one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Test skipper Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane has been tasked with leading an inexperienced squad that possesses just 479 one-day caps — 229 of which belong to recalled spinner Harbhajan Singh.

India’s decision to bring a second-string side to Zimbabwe two years ago did not stop them from whitewashing the home side 5-0, and they will still be favourite to win the three ODIs and T20s on this short tour.

“It’s a good opportunity for all of us to express ourselves. We’re taking Zimbabwe very seriously,” said Rahane.

“This is a good platform to showcase our talent here, and do well at the international level. We want to play our game and back our strengths.”

Despite losing star batsman Brendan Taylor to county cricket after the World Cup earlier this year, Zimbabwe have shown improvement under experienced coach Dav Whatmore and they ran Pakistan close in the majority of games on a recent trip to the subcontinent.

Captain Elton Chigumbura and Sikandar Raza Butt registered maiden international centuries, while fellow batsmen Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Chamu Chibhabha also showed progress.

“The hardware is there, you’ve seen it, it’s the software that they’ve got to work on,” Whatmore said.

“Skill set is important, but so is mindset and that’s what we’re hoping to improve upon.”

Batsman Craig Ervine will miss the start of the series with a hamstring strain, and the hosts have recalled batsman Malcolm Waller, wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva and seamers Donald Tiripano and Neville Madziva to their squad.

The series will be one of the first to be played under the new playing conditions released by the International Cricket Council recently.

Compulsory catchers will no longer be required in the opening 10 overs, the batting powerplay has been abandoned and teams can now have five fielders outside the circle in the final 10 overs.

“After the first game we’ll develop an idea about what sorts of strategies we need to use for the new rules,” Rahane said.

“But it’s quite exciting, with new fielding restrictions and free hits off all no-balls. It is very exciting, but we have to wait and watch how these new rules will go forward.”

The three ODIs will be played at Harare Sports Club on July 10, 12 and 14, and will be followed by two Twenty20 Internationals at the same venue on July 17 and 19.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2015

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