India vs Zimbabwe: A deep dive into the stats and records

The first match between India and Zimbabwe was in the 1983 World Cup. The Zimbabwean cricket team were outplayed by the Indians, courtesy of Madan Lal’s impressive spell with the ball. The maiden Test between the two teams, held at Harare, ended in a draw after the Chevrons’ captain, Dave Houghton, played a memorable knock of 121 runs.

Overall, India and Zimbabwe have played 84 matches across the Test, ODI and T20I formats. The encounters between the two countries have been a rare feat since Zimbabwe’s descent down the pecking order in the 2010s. Team India have the better records across all formats against the Chevrons.

So far, India have played against Zimbabwe in seven T20Is, all at Harare. Suresh Raina and Co. produced a dominant display to win the maiden T20 International between the two sides.

India vs Zimbabwe head-to-head in cricket

India vs Zimbabwe in World Cups

India vs Zimbabwe cricket records and stats

India vs Zimbabwe Test records

Highest team total in a Test innings: India declared at 609/6 against Zimbabwe in the second Test at Nagpur in November 2000.

Lowest team total in a Test innings: Zimbabwe scored only 146 runs in the second Test at Delhi in February/March 2002.

Most runs in Tests: Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower amassed 1,138 runs in nine Tests against India at an average of 94.83.

Most wickets in Tests: Anil Kumble, the former Indian captain, picked up 38 wickets in seven Tests against Zimbabwe at an average of 22.60, while conceding only 2.32 runs per over.

Highest individual scores in Tests: The Zimbabwean middle-order batter, Andy Flower scored 232 runs in 444 balls against India in the second Test at Nagpur in November 2000.

Best bowling figures in Tests: Indian bowling all-rounder, Irfan Pathan scalped seven wickets, while conceding only 59 runs, against Zimbabwe in the second Test at Harare in September 2005.

India vs Zimbabwe ODI records

Highest team total in an ODI innings: India racked up a score of 333/6 against Zimbabwe in the fifth ODI in March 2002 at Guwahati.

Lowest team total in an ODI innings: Zimbabwe were bundled out for 65 runs in the third ODI against India in August 2005 at Harare.

Most runs in ODIs: Sachin Tendulkar smashed 1377 runs in 34 matches against the Chevrons, including five centuries and five half-centuries.

Most wickets in ODIs: Former Indian pacer, Ajit Agarkar scalped 45 wickets in 26 matches against Zimbabwe, averaging a wicket once every 32.3 balls.

Highest individual scores in ODIs: The iconic 175-run knock by Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in the 1983 Prudential World Cup.

Best bowling figures in ODIs: Amit Mishra spun a web around the Chevrons with a spell of 6/48 at Bulawayo in August 2013.

India vs Zimbabwe T20I records

Highest team total in a T20I innings: India registered a score of 178/5 in the first T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare in July 2015.

Lowest team total in a T20I innings: The Chevrons could only put up a score of 99/9 in the second T20I against India in June 2016.

Most runs in T20Is: Zimbabwean top order batter Chamu Chibhabha has notched up 172 runs in seven matches against India at a strike-rate of 104.24. 

Most wickets in T20Is: Indian bowlers, Barinder Sran and Axar Patel, along with Zimbabwe’s Chris Mpofu are the leading wicket-takers with six wickets each. 

Highest individual scores in T20Is: Suresh Raina made a quickfire knock of 72 runs from 44 balls against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at Harare in June 2010. 

Best bowling figures in T20Is: Indian pacer Barinder Sran took 4/10 in an economical spell in the second T20I against India in June 2016.

Featured image: Jekesai NJIKIZANA / AFP