India Zimbabwe Five Match ODI Series Starting Today

With most of their top stars rested, a depleted Indian cricket team will seek revenge for the humiliation it suffered two years ago when it takes on minnows Zimbabwe in a five match ODI series starting from Wednesday, well aware of the perils of taking the home side lightly.On their previous trip here, another depleted Indian team, captained by Suresh Raina, lost both its matches to Zimbabwe in a tri series which also featured familiar foes Sri Lanka.The Indians, being led by Virat Kohli this time after Mahendra Singh Dhoni was rested, would do well to revise the lessons of that trip before taking the field.

Zimbabwe may not be too big a force to reckon with in international cricket but can be a handful for an under strength team.And India can be called a depleted side given that top spinner R Ashwin, and frontline pacer Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav would also be missing from action apart from Dhoni.Zimbabwe coach Andy Waller stated that all along they have prepared and hoped they might surprise them in one of the games.You`ve got to be realistic, but as long as they are competitive and do the best they can. Their guys are hugely excited about this. It`s a great experience for them, and they have been preparing knowing that the best side in the world are coming.

The Indian batting would revolve around the likes of Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Rohit has blossomed in the opening role and would look to strengthen his position with some good knocks here.In fact, Shikhar and Rohit average 57.72 in partnership and have put together three century stands so far.Cheteshwar Pujara would lend stability to the middle order where Suresh Raina will also have an important role to play. zRaina would look to wipe off the memories of the previous tour`s debacle under his captaincy.India`s bowling attack has an all new look to it with the duo of Shami Ahmed and rookie Mohit Sharma comprising the pace department, aiming to earn some brownie points for themselves. Vinay Kumar and Jaydev Unadkat are the other speedsters in the squad.

India: Virat Kohli (capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Parveez Rasool, Shami Ahmed, R Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohit Sharma.

Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chatara, Michael Chinouya, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai M`shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.