IND vs ZIM, 1st T20I Live: India win toss, opt to bowl in Harare

Download AppNewsSportsCricketIND vs ZIM, 1st T20I Live: India win toss, opt to bowl in HarareIND vs ZIMIndia (IND) vs Zimbabwe (ZIM), 1st T20I Live score: After a winless white-ball tour of England and Ireland, Shreyas Iyer's India begin afresh in Harare. Can the visitors finally put their UK ghosts behind them and make a winning start to the Zimbabwe T20I series?India (IND) vs Zimbabwe (ZIM), 1st T20I Live score. (Reuters Photo) Hi and welcome to India Today's live coverage of the Zimbabwe vs India, 1st T20I in Harare. 16:17 IST:A quick word - Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani says the Bangladesh series was a good one for him as he was able to make the most of the conditions. Acknowledging that India are a top side, he says international cricket ultimately comes down to bat versus ball, and backs himself to get the better of the contest if he consistently hits the right lengths. Blessing opines that Harare is quite different from Bulawayo, offering a bit more bounce that suits their bowling attack, although the surface can also be a little slow.16:11 IST:PITCH REPORT - Ed Rainsford says that it is a superb day for cricket. Adds that the shortest part of the ground is 62 meters and the longest one is 81 meters. Tells that the groundstaff have to manage the moisture which is unusual at this time of the year. Mentions that it looks like a flat surface with a few cracks on it, but he doesn't expect them to affect much. Says that 165 is usually the par score here, but he reckons 180 will be par on this wicket.16:08 IST:India (Playing XI) - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma (On T20I debut) and Mayank Yadav.16:08 IST:Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Brian Bennett, Ben Curran (On T20I debut), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani (WK), Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri (On T20I debut), Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.16:08 IST:The skipper of Zimbabwe - Sikandar Raza says they don't mind batting first as this isn't a typical Harare surface. Expects a bit in it for the bowlers early on but believes it will not last too long, adding that there are plenty of runs to be had. Despite the T20I series defeat to Bangladesh, he believes the side took plenty of positives from it and is looking to build on those performances. Informs that Newman Nyamhuri and Ben Curran make their T20I debuts, and they are going with four seamers.16:12 IST:The captain of India - Shreyas Iyer says that it is his first time here and he doesn't know how the wicket will behave. Adds that, looking at the practice wickets, he anticipates it to have good bounce, and that's why they are bowling first. Iyer mentions that it was pleasing to see Zimbabwe's performance in the World Cup and the way the bowlers and batters executed their plans. Ends by saying that they are going with three seamers and one spinner.