Introduction: Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline
Rivalry among the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team and the India National Cricket Team has produced some thrilling matches over the decades. Although India has been an undisputed force at international level, Zimbabwe has had its moments of glory, especially during the late 1990s and into the early 2000s.
From the initial clashes during World Cups to bilateral series and historical surprises, this article examines the entire history of games among Zimbabwe as well as India with important moments, major players, record-breaking performances, and figures.
Table of Contents
Historical Background of Zimbabwe and India in Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket An experience from Associate to Full-Member
- Zimbabwe first was recognized internationally at Zimbabwe first gained international recognition at the 1982 Cricket World Cup, playing as an associate member.
- The team was granted the status of a Test team in the year 1992 when they played their first test game against India.
- Through the decades, Zimbabwe has produced legendary cricketers such as Andy Flower, Heath Streak, Brendan Taylor, and Tatenda Taibu..
India’s Cricketing Rise and Dominance
- India played the first test match of its kind on the night of 1932 against England.
- With cricket legends such as Sachin Tendulkar Rahul Dravid MS Dhoni as well as Virat Kohli, India became a world-class powerhouse.
- India has won numerous ICC trophy awards such as those of the 1981 and 2011, Cricket World Cups and the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe vs India: Timeline of Major Matches

1983: Zimbabwe Almost Shocks India in the World Cup
A single of the memorable games played between India and Zimbabwe occurred at the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
- Date: June 18, 1983
- Venue: Tunbridge Wells, England
- Summary:
- India was beaten down to 17/5 in the top order, with batsmen struggling.
- Kapil Dev was a hero in his innings, scoring 175 from the 138 ball*, saving India.
- Zimbabwe tried to fight back but came up short. Zimbabwe was lost to the score of 235..
- Results: India won by 31 runs and the match is regarded as to be one of the pivotal moments in India’s World Cup winning campaign.
1992: Zimbabwe’s First-Ever Test Match vs India
After attaining Status as a Test team in the year 1992, Zimbabwe played its first ever test match with India.
- Venue: Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe
- Key Highlights:
- Zimbabwe made a strong debut, scoring 456/6 declared.
- Andy Flower scored * 115 and became one of Zimbabwe’s top cricketers.
- India came back by putting 307 out which meant that the game ended with the draw. drawn.
1997: Zimbabwe Stuns India in an ODI Series
Zimbabwe achieved its first ever bilateral ODI series victory in a series against India.
- Final Score: Zimbabwe won the series 1-1 following a rain-related disruption to the other games.
- Principal Players Alistair Campbell and Heath Streak played crucial roles.
1999 World Cup: Zimbabwe’s Historic Victory Over India
One of the biggest surprises in World Cup history.
- Date: May 19, 1999
- Venue: Leicester, England
- Match Summary:
- Zimbabwe recorded 252/9 in the match, with Neil Johnson (68 runs and three wickets) being the hero.
- India required 9 runs in the final over, but fell in the wrong direction by just 3 runs.
- Results: Zimbabwe won, being the biggest of Zimbabwe’s wins.
2001: Zimbabwe Registers Maiden Test Win vs India
- Venue: Harare
- Match Summary:
- Zimbabwe took India to 237 in the opening innings.
- Travis Friend and Heath Streak’s performances in the bowling department helped Zimbabwe in winning.
- Results: Zimbabwe won their first test Match against India.
2013: India’s Clean Sweep Under Virat Kohli
India dominated Zimbabwe in a 5-match ODI series, winning 5-0.
- Captain: Virat Kohli
- Top Performers:
- Virat Kohli at 115* during the ODI’s first game.
- Amit Mishra 6 wickets haul at the end of the ODI.
2016: Zimbabwe Shocks India in T20I
Zimbabwe beat India in an exciting T20 game and defended an unimpressive total.
- Date: June 18, 2016
- Result: Zimbabwe won by 2 runs.
- Key Player: Elton Chigumbura scored 54 off 26 balls.
2022: India’s Recent Tour to Zimbabwe

India has continued to dominate, winning the ODI series by 3-0.
- Key Performers:
- Shubman Gill: 130 in the 3rd ODI.
- Deepak Chahar: 6/7 in the 1st ODI.
Head-to-Head Record: India vs Zimbabwe
Format | Matches Played | India Wins | Zimbabwe Wins | Draw/Tie/NR |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
ODIs | 67 | 55 | 10 | 2 |
T20Is | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
Top Individual Performances
Best Batting Performances
Player | Score | Year | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
Kapil Dev | 175* | 1983 | Tunbridge Wells |
Andy Flower | 145* | 2000 | Harare |
Virat Kohli | 115* | 2013 | Harare |
Shubman Gill | 130 | 2022 | Harare |
Best Bowling Performances
Player | Wickets | Year | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
Anil Kumble | 6/58 | 1996 | Harare |
Heath Streak | 5/32 | 1997 | Bulawayo |
Deepak Chahar | 6/7 | 2022 | Harare |
Future of India vs Zimbabwe Cricket Rivalry
- India’s Power: With the depth of talent within Indian cricket India could continue to win over the years to come.
- Zimbabwe’s Revival: Zimbabwe has been building its squad using young talents such as Sikandar Rza and Blessing Muzarabani.
- More frequent matches: With ICC promoting bilateral cricket, we could see more India against Zimbabwe matches in the near future.
Conclusion
The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline is full of memorable events, thrilling upsets and dominating performances. Although India was the better team, Zimbabwe has managed to achieve remarkable wins especially in this year’s 1999 World Cup and the 2001 Test series.
With the emergence of young talent from both teams the future of this rivalry in cricket remains exciting, with the potential for exciting matches in the coming years.
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