A forgotten rain rule, an unforgettable spat
India's matches in Zimbabwe haven't been the most memorable. Here are a few that stand out

Kevin Arnott and Grant Flower walk out to introduce Zimbabwe to Tests, in 1992 • Getty Images
There was once a time when India had time for smaller teams. Three Test teams have made a debut against India, and Zimbabwe were the second one. Kevin Arnott faced the first ball from Kapil Dev, and on a slow lifeless pitch in hot conditions, Zimbabwe ground India into dust. India had to fight hard to avoid the follow-on, but they still conceded the first-innings lead. However, so cautious was the approach of the teams and so innocuous the conditions, even a follow-on would have failed to produce a result.
Another match known more for the trivia. We might be dismayed by different DRS playing conditions in different countries today, but back then, every country had its own rain rule. England and South Africa, which meant Zimbabwe by extension, employed two of the most sophisticated rules. England's Duckworth-Lewis went on to become the universal system, but Clark-Samson, used to adjust the target in this game, wasn't far behind at that time.
Wisden calls this a match India had dared not lose. India had had a disastrous tour to New Zealand in the lead-up, and lost to Australia heavily in the World Cup. Effigies had been burnt, players' houses had been attacked, and worse was expected if India lost and hurt their chances of progressing further in the World Cup. India's response wasn't the most emphatic, but they did the job: Sachin Tendulkar's 81 took India to 255, and the bowlers all contributed to limit Zimbabwe to 172. It was the start of India's eight-match winning streak, which ended in the final. No effigies were burnt after this defeat to Australia.
India's only Test series win in Zimbabwe. However, the most memorable match an Indian has played in Zimbabwe was the game of pool between the captain Sourav Ganguly and the coach Greg Chappell, who were making up after the captain had revealed to the world that the coach had suggested he give up his captaincy. Ever since that press conference, the actual cricket took the back seat as emotions took over to kick-start some of the most fractious years in Indian cricket.
International cricket was coming back to the troubled Zimbabwe, the team had won only one of its last 11 ODIs, and had given away 285 to a young Indian side. What followed had no air of an upset. Smoothly, as if they had been successfully chasing totals of 280-plus regularly, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Hamilton Masakadza punished India's bowling and won with 10 balls to spare. Zimbabwe went on to make the final of the tri-series.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo