IND vs ZIM: We Can Be Handful For The Indian Team On A Given Day - Lance Klusener

Former South Africa player and present Zimbabwe batting coach Lance Klusener is confident that his side can come strong on any given day. The Regis Chakabva-led team is set to take on India in a three-game ODI series, starting on Thursday.

Zimbabwe are coming fresh from drubbing Bangladesh in the home series with identical 2-1 results in both ODI and T20I series. Sikandar Raza’s twin centuries in the ODIs and Innocent Kaia stepping up in the first game are some great signings for the hosts ahead of the series against the Men in Blue.

India is a huge challenge not only for Zimbabwe but for any other team: Lance Klusener

India will visit the African nation after six years since MS Dhoni-led a bunch of youngsters in 2016. The Indian team are missing first-choice players like Kohli, Rohit, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.

Klusener, who played some great matches against India for the Proteas during his playing times, said Zimbabwe can defeat the Indian team on a particular day, but acknowledged the challenge that the current Indian side poses.

“I think India is a huge challenge not only for Zimbabwe but for any other team. They are playing good cricket. Missing a few guys I guess from their regular team when they are coming out here,” Klusener told Cricbuzz.

“I think there is an opportunity there but not too worried about India to be honest. We are worried about ourselves and our processes and we doing our things right on a given day we can be a handful for the Indian team and it’s a big mountain for us,” he added.

It’s a mountain for us to climb: Lance Klusener on defeating India

India lead the head-to-head record 51-10 against Zimbabwe in 63 ODIs, while two games ended in a tie. Klusener believes that if the team focuses on a few areas and works towards them, they have a good chance of defeating the Asian side.

“Not sure if we have beaten them in the ODIs. It’s a mountain for us to climb and our focus will be on ourselves and make sure we keep doing our few things right. If we are doing that and taking care of couple of points we want to focus on them and hopefully the result can take care of itself,” Klusener said.

The first ODI between Zimbabwe and India will start on Thursday (August 18) at the Harare Sports Club.

Also Read: IND vs ZIM: Innocent Kaia Predicts Zimbabwe To Win ODI Series 2-1