India and Zimbabwe will meet in the third and final ODI of the series. ZIM vs IND 3rd ODI is scheduled to be played on Monday (August 22) at the Harare Sports Club, the same venue for the first two ODI matches. 

India crushed  Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the first ODI and repeated a similar defeat in the second game by five wickets to seal the series 2-0. The visitors will eye for another whitewash in the African nation, but for Regis Chakabava and his men, the search for a consolation win will be the motive. 

Indian bowlers have been on the top of their game, particularly the seam bowlers. If Deepak Chahar’s 3/27 on return to ODI cricket helped India to bowl out Zimbabwe for 189, then Shardul Thakur, who replaced Chahar in the second game, registered 3 for 38 from seven overs to give the hosts another taste of bowling supremacy. 

Indian openers Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan looked solid in the first game with brisk half-centuries. Both the batters returned with the exact figures of 33 apiece in the second game. 

India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul will have one last opportunity to bat ahead of the Asia Cup 2022. In the first ODI, the Karnataka player sacrificed the opening slot to accommodate Gill and Dhawan.  Players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Avesh Khan and Shahbaz Ahmed could be handed an opportunity given that India have won the series. 

ZIM vs IND: India’s Predicted Playing XI Against Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI

Let’s look at India’s playing XI in the third ODI against Zimbabwe.

1) Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan started the series with a brisk half-century (81 not out off 113 balls) in a 192-run opening stand with Shubman Gill. He added 33 in the second match as India chased 162 in just 25.4 overs.