Live Cricket Score of India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI at Harare

Amidst the hullabaloo surrounding the Ashes series, a new-look Indian side take on Zimbabwe in the first ODI at the Harare Sports Club. Things, however, are not as rosy as the former World Champions would like them to be.

For, India seek solutions to pertinent questions in the 50-over format following their shock defeat to Bangladesh last month. A slot in the middle-order, another for the all-rounder and the fast bowling places are all up for grabs. Even Ajinkya Rahane, captain for this tour, and arguably India's most improved batsman in 2014-15, was left out of the final two games in Bangladesh citing an inability to force the pace in the middle of the innings.

For Zimbabwe cricket looking to reinvent itself, India's visit could not have come at a better time. While a tour by India will most certainly fill the coffers, there is also the added advantage of good performances getting a wider audience that could set off a chain reaction leading to more teams touring Zimbabwe with greater frequency. They have their hands full this season already with the India tour followed by a visit from New Zealand and a tri-series involving West Indies and Pakistan as they look to book a place in what is increasingly likely to be a 10-team 2019 World Cup.

Chamu Chibhabha was rewarded for his disciplined lines with a second wicket. This time, Kedar Jadhav, attempting a cut, under-edged the delivery and wicket-keeper Richmond Mutumbami completed a sharp catch. Zimbabwe, well and truly on top. India need a partnership. They are playing two all-rounders. One of them will need to hang in there with Ambati Rayudu, who has looked India's best batsman.

Elton Chigumbura won the toss on a cold morning in Harare and India in to bat. The pitch looks like a good ODI surface but the conditions dictated the Zimbabwean captain to make the decision he did. Ajinkya Rahane reckoned that India were looking to bowl as well. Now that he is the skipper, it looks exceedingly possible that Rahane will open the batting with Murali Vijay with Robin Uthappa batting at 5. We'll wait and see that but until then here are the teams

India (Playing XI): Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu(c), Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa(w), Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni

gvKvyWaMeKZ

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Sikandar Raza, Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura(c), Richmond Mutumbami(w), Graeme Cremer, Donald Tiripano, Brian Vitori, Tinashe Panyangara

1ZYbk3OMq6

Ajinkya Rahane survived a probing first over from Tinashe Panyangara who bowled six deliveries in that channel outside the off-stump. Left-arm seamer Brian Vitori, from the other end, wasted no time in employing the off-cutter ala Mustafizur Rahman but was negotiated carefully by Murali Vijay. The opening spell will go a long way in deciding the fate of the match. If Zimbabwe don't get early wickets they may have to chase a big total.

Having said that, there's definitely something in this pitch for the seamers.

Murali Vijay's return to ODI cricket lasted all of nine balls before he edged a Brian Vitori delivery to second slip fielder Vusi Sibanda. Just the start that Zimbabwe were looking for. Vitori got this one to angle across the right-hander and Vijay was sucked into playing the expansive drive through covers. Good bowling but the same cannot be said about the batting.

Here's Ambati Rayudu !

The left-armer's angle of Brian Vitori continued to pose problems for the right-handed Rahane who was nearly consumed by an excellent away swinger by Vitori. The bowler set off in celebration but the umpire ruled the decision in favour of the batsman and rightly so. There was no edge on that. In the meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu was largely untroubled and used his feet to perfection to pick up a boundary through mid-on.

The going was slow but Rahane and Rayudu have ensured that India didn't lose any more wickets in the powerplay.