HARARE: India captain KL Rahul was very impressed with his bowling unit which fashioned a 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe by restricting the hosts to under 200 in the first ODI here on Thursday.
Rahul, himself was making a comeback to international cricket after more than two months but decided to continue with the crack opening pair of Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan, who added 192 runs for an unbroken opening stand.
"Picking up wickets was crucial. There was swing and seam movement as well. But it was good to see them (bowlers) put the ball in the right areas and be disciplined," the skipper said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Three players in the first XI, Rahul, Deepak Chahar and Kuldeep Yadav were making a comeback after a long rehabilitation process.
"As good as it can be, I am on the field and I am happy. We do play a lot of cricket, injuries are going to be a part of it," Rahul said.
"Being away from the game is hard. Rehab and everything everyday gets boring. We'd rather be playing 365 days than be with the physio. For a few of us, it is great to be back in the Indian dressing room."
Was nervous at the start, says Chahar
Playing international cricket after a gap of six months is really tough and he was nervous at the onset, seamer Deepak Chahar said after a successful comeback with figures of 3/27.
"When you are playing an international game after six-and-a-half months, you are always nervous. Before coming here I played four-five practice games. But playing for the country, you wanted to do well and the mind and the body were not working together," he said about the start of his spell where he looked unsure about his run-up.
"That ball I wanted to bowl a bouncer and the spikes didn't go through and I slipped. The landing area was a little hard and my nails were not going in and were slippery."
1/8:A commanding 10-wicket win
<p>Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill struck fluent unbeaten half-centuries as India raced to a crushing 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their first ODI at the Harare Sports Grounds. (AP photo)</p>
2/8:Unbeaten opening stand takes India home
<p>Set a target of 190 to win, the visitors got there without the loss of a wicket in 30.5 overs as Dhawan scored 81 from 113 balls and Gill a more brutal 82 from 72 deliveries. (Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)</p>
3/8:Zimbabwe bowlers toil in vain
<p>Zimbabwe used eight bowlers in their attempt to restrict their opponents, but there was no reward against the India openers. (AFP photo)</p>
4/8:Batting order collapse for the hosts
<p>India had elected to bowl first and were quickly into the wickets as they reduced the home side to 66 for five. (AFP photo)</p>
5/8:Deepak shines on return
<p>Seamer Deepak Chahar removed both openers and finished with figures of 3-27, well supported by the more expensive Prasidh Krishna, who took 3-50 in eight overs. (AP photo)</p>
6/8:Axar on target
<p>The guile of left-arm spinner Axar Patel (3-24) was also impressive as he removed innings top-scorer Regis Chakabva (35). (AP photo)</p>
7/8:The face-saving Evans, Ngarava stand
<p>A 70-run ninth-wicket stand between Brad Evans (33 not out) and Richard Ngarava (34) added some respectability to the home score, but it never looked like a target to trouble India. (ANI photo)</p>
8/8:India go 1-0 up
<p>The second ODI will be played on Saturday and the third on Monday, both also in Harare. (ANI photo)</p>Enjoying batting with Gill, says Dhawan
Dhawan is enjoying a purple patch in ODI cricket and his partnership with Gill is much talked about.
"I am enjoying batting with the youngster (Gill) and I feel like a youngster too. I enjoyed the consistency from the West Indies. I knew that once I was set, I would go after the bowlers," Dhawan said after scoring unbeaten 81 off 113 balls.
"I wanted to rotate the strike as well and then my plan was to accelerate. My rhythm with Gill has settled nicely. The way he bats and times the ball is lovely to watch. He has shown consistency in converting fifties into big fifties."
