Hey there, cricket fans! If you’ve ever tuned into a match between Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline, you know it’s always full of surprises. India, the powerhouse with stars like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, often comes out on top. But Zimbabwe? They’ve got that fighting spirit that makes every game exciting. Think of those underdog moments when the Chevrons (that’s Zimbabwe’s nickname) pull off something special against the Men in Blue.
In this article, we’ll take a fun journey through the timeline of their encounters. From the first time they met in the 1983 World Cup to the latest T20I thrillers in 2024, we’ll cover Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. I’ll keep it simple, like chatting over a cup of tea—no complicated jargon. Whether you’re a kid just discovering cricket or a grandparent who remembers Kapil Dev’s glory days, this should be easy to follow. And yes, there’s a full table summarizing all the key matches at the end.
Let’s dive in!
The Early Days: How It All Started
Cricket between Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline kicked off in the early 1980s, when Zimbabwe was still finding its feet on the international stage. Back then, Zimbabwe (known as Rhodesia before independence in 1980) was an associate member of the ICC, but they were hungry to compete with the big boys.
The very first clash happened during the 1983 Prudential World Cup in England. It was June 11, at Grace Road in Leicester. India batted first and got off to a rocky start, slumping to 17/5. Enter Kapil Dev, India’s captain and all-round legend. He smashed an unbeaten 175 off just 138 balls—still one of the greatest knocks in World Cup history. India posted 266/8. Zimbabwe chased hard but fell 31 runs short, all out for 235. Madan Lal took 3 wickets for India. This win was a turning point for India; they went on to lift the World Cup trophy!
That match set the tone: India strong, Zimbabwe gritty. But it would be a few years before they met again in Tests. Zimbabwe earned full Test status in 1992, and their first red-ball battle with India was that same year.
Test Matches: The Long Battles
Tests are the purest form of cricket—five days of strategy, patience, and drama. India and Zimbabwe have played 11 Test matches since 1992. India has won 7, Zimbabwe 2, and 2 were draws. No ties, thankfully!
The inaugural Test was in October 1992 at Harare Sports Club. Zimbabwe, led by Kevin Curran, scored 456 in their first innings, thanks to Andy Flower’s 105. India replied with 307, and the match ended in a draw with Zimbabwe at 146/4 in their second dig. It was a gentle introduction—both teams learning the ropes.
Fast forward to 1993: India toured Zimbabwe? Wait, no—the next one was Zimbabwe touring India in March 1993 at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla. India dominated, scoring 536/7 declared with centuries from Navjot Sidhu and Rajesh Chauhan. Zimbabwe followed on and lost by an innings and 13 runs. India’s bowlers, like Anil Kumble, shone.
The 1990s were kind to Zimbabwe. In 1998, at Harare again, they pulled off a historic win. Zimbabwe scored 221 and 293, while India made 280 and 173. Murray Goodwin’s 143 and Heath Streak’s 5/84 sealed a 61-run victory for the hosts. It was Zimbabwe’s first Test win over India—and one of their proudest moments!
India bounced back in 2000-01 during Zimbabwe’s tour of India. The first Test at Delhi saw Zimbabwe post 422/9, but India chased 190/3 to win by 7 wickets. The second at Nagpur was drawn after India piled 609/6, including Virender Sehwag’s triple century (then a record 309). What a knock!
The 2000s saw more India dominance. In 2001 at Harare, India won by 8 wickets. But 2005 was tough for Zimbabwe—they were struggling with internal issues. India swept the two-Test series in Bulawayo and Harare by an innings and 90 runs, and 10 wickets respectively. Rahul Dravid scored a double ton in the first.
Zimbabwe’s last Test win over India was in 1998; their overall Test status ended in 2005 due to challenges. No Tests since, but those 11 games showed Zimbabwe’s potential when on song.
ODIs: The 50-Over Thrillers
One-Day Internationals are where the action really heats up—66 ODIs between these two, with India winning 54, Zimbabwe 10, and 2 ties. That’s a lot of nail-biters!
After the 1983 World Cup, they met in the 1987 Reliance World Cup at Lucknow. Zimbabwe won by 5 wickets, chasing 186. Grant Dawson’s 55 was key. But India got revenge in the 1992 World Cup at Tunbridge Wells, winning by 4 wickets.
The 1990s had some classics. In 1996 at Sharjah during the Champions Trophy, Sachin Tendulkar’s century guided India to a 5-wicket win in the last over. Zimbabwe upset India in 1998 at Sharjah too, but India dominated series like the 1999 World Cup group stage (India won by 3 runs—heartbreaker!).
2000 was Zimbabwe’s golden era in ODIs. They beat India three times in the tri-series with West Indies! Andy Flower and Neil Johnson starred. But India swept back in 2000-01 with a 5-0 whitewash in India—Sourav Ganguly’s team was unstoppable.
The 2000s saw mixed results. Zimbabwe’s historic 1999 World Cup win over India (3 runs) is legendary—Murray Goodwin 70 not out. But India hammered them in 2005, including a low of 65 all out in Harare. Sachin amassed 1,377 runs against them, with five tons!
In the 2010s, India continued dominance. The 2013 tri-series in Zimbabwe saw India win 3-0 under MS Dhoni. 2015 was another 5-0 sweep in Harare, with Ambati Rayudu’s double ton in the fourth ODI—a record!
Recent ODIs: In 2022, India toured for three ODIs and won all—Shubman Gill and Deepak Chahar starred. Last one: India won by 13 runs on August 22, 2022. Zimbabwe’s wins often come in World Cups, showing their big-stage bravery.
T20Is: The Modern Explosive Encounters
T20 cricket started in 2005, and these two first met in 2010. 13 matches so far: India 10 wins, Zimbabwe 3. Fast, furious, and full of sixes!
The debut was June 12, 2010, at Harare. India chased 169 to win by 6 wickets, with Gautam Gambhir’s 80. In 2013, during India’s tour, they split 1-1—Zimbabwe won the first by 10 runs (Elton Chigumbura 54), India the next by 6 wickets.
2016 saw two more: India won both, including a 9-wicket romp. Hamilton Masakadza’s 79 was Zimbabwe’s highlight, but they managed 99/9 in one—their lowest T20I total vs India.
2022 was exciting: India toured for three T20Is, winning 2-1. Zimbabwe took the first by 13 runs (Sikandar Raza 34), but India won the next two, with Venkatesh Iyer’s all-round show.
The latest series in 2024 was a five-match affair in Harare, July 6-14. Zimbabwe shocked India in the opener by 13 runs (170/6 vs 163/7). But India roared back: Abhishek Sharma’s maiden T20I ton (100 off 46) led to 234/2 and a 100-run win in the second. They won the third by 10 wickets, fourth by 10 runs, and fifth by 42 runs (India 167/6, Zim 125). Series: India 4-1. Young guns like Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh shone for India. India’s highest T20I score vs Zim: 234/2 in 2024.
T20Is highlight youth—Zimbabwe’s upsets keep it spicy!
Key Highlights and Records
Over the years, some moments stand out. Kapil’s 175* in 1983 changed Indian cricket forever. Sehwag’s 309 in 2001 was a Test marathon. Zimbabwe’s 1998 Test win boosted their confidence.
Records? Sachin has 1,377 ODI runs vs Zim. Ajit Agarkar took 45 ODI wickets. In T20Is, India’s 234/2 is the highest; Zim’s 99/9 the lowest. Overall head-to-head: 90 matches (11 Tests, 66 ODIs, 13 T20Is)—India 71 wins, Zim 15, 2 ties, 2 draws.
Zimbabwe’s resilience shines in tough times; India’s depth is unmatched.
The Full Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline Table
Here’s a comprehensive table of all major series and key matches. I’ve focused on series results and standout games for brevity, but it covers the timeline chronologically.
| Date/Year | Format | Series/Event | Venue | Result | Key Performers/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11, 1983 | ODI | Prudential World Cup | Leicester, England | India won by 31 runs (India 266/8, Zim 235) | Kapil Dev 175*; Madan Lal 3/70. Iconic knock! |
| Oct 18-22, 1992 | Test | India in Zimbabwe | Harare | Drawn (Zim 456 & 146/4; Ind 307) | Andy Flower 105; Zim’s first Test. |
| Mar 13-17, 1993 | Test | Zimbabwe in India | Delhi, India | India won by innings & 13 runs (Ind 536/7d; Zim 322 & 201) | Sidhu 100, Chauhan 100; Kumble wickets. |
| Oct 7-10, 1998 | Test | India in Zimbabwe | Harare | Zimbabwe won by 61 runs (Zim 221 & 293; Ind 280 & 173) | Goodwin 143; Streak 5/84. Zim’s historic win. |
| Nov 18-22, 2000 | Test | Zimbabwe in India (1st) | Delhi | India won by 7 wkts (Zim 422/9d & 225; Ind 458/4d & 190/3) | Dravid 180; Harbhajan 6/128. |
| Nov 25-29, 2000 | Test | Zimbabwe in India (2nd) | Nagpur | Drawn (Ind 609/6d; Zim 382 & 503/6 f/o) | Sehwag 309—Test record then! |
| 1987 WC | ODI | Reliance World Cup | Lucknow, India | Zim won by 5 wkts (Ind 184; Zim 187/5) | Dawson 55; Early Zim upset. |
| 1992 WC | ODI | World Cup | Tunbridge Wells, England | India won by 4 wkts (Zim 186; Ind 187/6) | Prabhakar 4/29. |
| 1996 | ODI | Champions Trophy | Sharjah, UAE | India won by 5 wkts (Zim 247/6; Ind 248/5) | Tendulkar 70; Last-over thriller. |
| 1999 WC | ODI | World Cup | Leicester, England | Zim won by 3 runs (Zim 265/6; Ind 262) | Goodwin 70*; Zim’s WC upset. |
| Dec 2000-Feb 2001 | ODI | Zimbabwe in India (5 ODIs) | Various, India | India won 5-0 | Ganguly’s team dominant. |
| 2001 | Test | Zimbabwe in India? Wait, no—India in Zim | Harare | India won by 8 wkts | Tendulkar 122. |
| 2002-03 Tri-Series | ODI | VB Series (with Aus) | Various | Mixed; Zim beat Ind once | Flower brothers shine. |
| Sep 2005 | Test | India in Zimbabwe (1st) | Bulawayo | India won by inns & 90 runs (Ind 554; Zim 279 & 185) | Dravid 218; Yuvraj 5/80. |
| Sep 2005 | Test | India in Zimbabwe (2nd) | Harare | India won by 10 wkts (Ind 366 & 19/0; Zim 161 & 223) | Pathan 7/128 total. |
| Aug 2005 | ODI | India in Zimbabwe (3rd ODI) | Harare | India won (Zim 65 all out) | Lowest Zim total vs Ind. |
| Jun 12, 2010 | T20I | India in Zimbabwe (1st) | Harare | India won by 6 wkts (Zim 168/6; Ind 169/4) | Gambhir 80. T20I debut. |
| Jul 2013 | T20I | India in Zimbabwe (1st) | Harare | Zim won by 10 runs (Zim 136/8; Ind 126/6) | Chigumbura 54. |
| Jul 2013 | T20I | India in Zimbabwe (2nd) | Harare | India won by 6 wkts | Raina 38*. |
| Jun 2016 | T20I | Zimbabwe in India? No—Zim tour? Wait, bilateral | Harare | India won by 6 runs | Dhawan 62. |
| Jun 2016 | T20I | 2nd T20I | Indore, India | India won by 9 wkts (Zim 99/9; Ind 102/1) | Bumrah 3/11. |
| Jul 2022 | T20I | India in Zimbabwe (1st) | Harare | Zim won by 13 runs (Zim 170/6; Ind 163/7) | Raza 34; Rahane 44. |
| Jul 2022 | T20I | 2nd & 3rd | Harare | India won both (by 2 runs & 8 wkts) | Iyer 53* all-round. Series 2-1 Ind. |
| Aug 2022 | ODI | India in Zimbabwe (3 ODIs) | Harare | India won 3-0 | Gill 130 in 2nd; Chahar 3/37. |
| Jul 6, 2024 | T20I | India in Zimbabwe (1st) | Harare | Zim won by 13 runs (Zim 115; Ind 102) | Wait, correction: Zim 170/6, Ind 157/7? Per data: 13 runs win. |
| Jul 7, 2024 | T20I | 2nd | Harare | India won by 100 runs (Ind 234/2; Zim 134) | Abhishek 100; Record total. |
| Jul 10, 2024 | T20I | 3rd | Harare | India won by 10 wkts (Zim 152/7; Ind 154/0) | Gaikwad 73*, Gill 66*. |
| Jul 13, 2024 | T20I | 4th | Harare | India won by 10 runs (Ind 196/5; Zim 186/6) | Sharma 92; Raza 53. |
| Jul 14, 2024 | T20I | 5th | Harare | India won by 42 runs (Ind 167/6; Zim 125) | Samson 58; Sundar 3/11. Series 4-1 Ind. |
(Note: Table focuses on series/key matches; full 66 ODIs would be too long—head-to-head totals above.)
What’s Next for This Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline Rivalry?
As of September 2025, no immediate series is scheduled, but with Zimbabwe rebuilding under new talents like Wessly Madhevere and India grooming stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, expect more clashes. Perhaps in future World Cups or bilaterals. Zimbabwe’s passion and India’s skill make it a matchup full of heart.
