Zimbabwe hopes to surprise India as visitors look to settle scores of two-year old humiliation

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Harare: The last time India was in Zimbabwe, the hosts had managed to beat the former not one but twice. Zimbabwe coach, Andy Waller is now hoping that his wards, who will certainly be buoyed by the prospect of facing an Indian team that has tasted success at ICC Champions Trophy, rise to the occasion and surprise the visitors.
With Virat Kohli leading an Indian team that will be bereft of some of the stalwarts who played a pivotal role in not just the Champions Trophy triumph, but also in India's successful tour of West Indies thereafter, Zimbabwe will believe that it is in with more than just a fair chance of upsetting the Indian apple cart.
"All along we've prepared and hoped we might surprise them in one of the games. You've got to be realistic, but as long as we're competitive and do the best we can," said Waller.
Zimbabwe beat India in both the matches of a tri-series during the visitors' last trip here two years ago.
"Our guys are hugely excited about this. It's a great experience for them, and we've been preparing knowing that the best side in the world is coming. I think the guys are up for it. Hopefully all the hard work we've put in in the last nine weeks is going to pay off," he added.
The India-Zimbabwe limited-over series is Waller's first international assignment as head coach. He took over from Steve Mangongo, who had held the position in a caretaker's role until the end of the home series against Bangladesh in May.
The Indian team might be missing some of its senior players, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in this tour but Waller insisted that Zimbabwe did not consider the squad a depleted one.
"I think they've just got so many players. With the new guys who've come in, I don't think there's a huge difference to be honest," said the coach.
"We know that they're all very good cricketers, so we don't look at it like a weakened attack at all."
Zimbabwe have prepared hard for the series. Apart from having a training camp, they have also played a three-day practice match against Australia A, which the visitors won by 80 runs as the host batsmen failed to back the hard work of their bowlers, who had utilised the bowler-friendly Country Club pitch very well.
Waller said he expected the batsmen to have an easier time at the Harare Sports Club, where the first three ODIs will be played, than in Bulawayo.
"It was quite an interesting wicket (at Country Club), quite a difficult wicket. I think the guys are actually quite positive about it, because they were a damn good bowling side. And I think we know it's a lot harder batting on the wicket there than it will be at Sports Club," he said.
Waller also confirmed that veteran left-arm spinner Ray Price will be a part of the Zimbabwe squad during the series.
"Price is in the squad, I don't know why he wasn't named in the original list," said Waller after the team's nets session.
The 37-year-old Price might be playing his last series for Zimbabwe. He has played just one international this year, and with national contracts up for renewal soon, the departure of him seems imminent.
India seeks revenge for two-year old humiliation in Zimbabwe

Indians will be aware of the perils of taking Zimbabwe lightly
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 tomorrow, 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 tomorrow.
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.
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. Raina 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.
The spin attack would feature debutant Parveez Rasool, the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to get the national selectors' nod, and the experienced Amit Mishra. Dinesh Karthik would don the gloves behind the stumps in Dhoni's absence.
The Brendon Taylor-led Zimbabwean team, which has been training for the series for the last two months, is devoid of any major stars.
Taylor is their star in the batting department and has the best record against India in ODIs, with 184 runs at an average of 46 in four games.
The squad features five seamers, including Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Brian Vitori, Elton Chigumbura and the uncapped Michael Chinouya.
A look at overall record would make India the favourites as Zimbabwe have only beaten them 10 times out of the 51 ODIs played between the two sides.
Teams (from):
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.