Zimbabwe v India, 2016
Wisden's review of the first ODI, Zimbabwe v India, 2016
15-Apr-2017
First one-day international At Harare, June 11, 2016. India won by nine wickets. Zimbabwe 168 (49.5 overs)
Rahul became the first Indian to score a century on ODI debut, though he cut things fine. On a slow, low surface, Ambati Rayudu was often becalmed in their stand of 162*, but less so Rahul. After accumulating just seven fours in a slick innings, he was on 94, with India needing two for victory. Rahul saw his chance: taking half a step down the wicket, he launched Hamilton Masakadza's gentle medium-pace on to the players' balcony at long-on. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah deserved his career-best 4-28, while slow left-armer Axar Patel and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal strangled the middle order, though Zimbabwe's batsmen were as careless as their bowlers were toothless. Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza settled briefly before gifting their wickets, leaving Elton Chigumbura to prop up the tail.
Rahul became the first Indian to score a century on ODI debut, though he cut things fine. On a slow, low surface, Ambati Rayudu was often becalmed in their stand of 162*, but less so Rahul. After accumulating just seven fours in a slick innings, he was on 94, with India needing two for victory. Rahul saw his chance: taking half a step down the wicket, he launched Hamilton Masakadza's gentle medium-pace on to the players' balcony at long-on. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah deserved his career-best 4-28, while slow left-armer Axar Patel and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal strangled the middle order, though Zimbabwe's batsmen were as careless as their bowlers were toothless. Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza settled briefly before gifting their wickets, leaving Elton Chigumbura to prop up the tail.