Ind won by 7 wickets against Zimbabwe

The Indians conclude a three weeks Zimbabwe tour at Harare Sports Club before heading home in time for the Asia Cup and then continue long term plans for next year’s World Cup.

They play the second of two Twenty20 matches against a home side still reeling from Saturday’s drubbing by the Indians, when they scratched their way to 111-9 and saw that score overtaken by India in 15 overs.

From starting favourites after beating India twice in the recent Tri-nations series, Zimbabwe will now be setting their minds no further than a decent result.

India coach Gary Kirsten told AFP just before Sunday’s match that Zimbabwe ‘do indeed have some sufficiently good players to eventually take on the best in the world.’

As to India and their 15 mainly youngsters who are here more for experience than to win, Kirsten countered criticism that they were too raw in the international arena and were unbalanced.

He said: ‘This has been a good opportunity to expose young talent and they have played without the comfort of senior players around them, which is partly the point.

‘Those senior players have also had the opportunity for a rest. After all they play more than 100 days of cricket a year.

‘Some of the guys here have shown they are ready to be competitive members of a future World Cup squad and that is the way we are looking forward now.’

Zimbabwe make three changes as they drop Craig Ervine after needing 47 balls to get 30 runs on Saturday.

Also out are former captain Prosper Utseya and Edward Rainsford with Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer and debutant pace bowler Tendai Chatara taking their places.

India’s Piyush Chawla drops out with a leg strain in favour of Amit Mishra.

The teams:

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Chamu Chibhanbha, Gregory Lamb, Charles Coventry, Tatenda Taibu, Graeme Cremer, Ray Price, Chris Mpofu, Tendai Chatara.

India: Suresh Raina (capt), Murali Vijay, Naman Ojha, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, R. Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Ashok Dinda.

Umpires: Russell Tiffin and Owen Chirombe (ZIM). Match referee: Jeffrey Crowe (NZL).