Zimbabwe’s cricket team has a surprising history of beating India in official international matches. On March 16, 2025, Pakistan faced a crushing defeat against New Zealand, but this article focuses on Zimbabwe’s past triumphs. According to ESPNcricinfo, Zimbabwe has defeated India 15 times across all formats—Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Their latest victory came in a T20I in Harare in July 2024, proving they can still upset big teams.
With stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan out of Pakistan’s squad, it’s a reminder of how unpredictable cricket can be. This piece explores Zimbabwe’s wins over India, which now leads the T20I scoring charts, and other fun cricket stats. Let’s dive into the numbers and see what they reveal about this rivalry. Though the India Cricket Team has had an exceptional run in the ICC tournaments, they also had setbacks in the past.
How Often Have Zimbabwe Beaten India?
Zimbabwe has beaten India 15 times in official international cricket matches. This includes two Test wins, ten ODI victories, and three T20I successes. The first Test win of Zimbabwe came in Harare in 1998, a stunning 61-run victory. In 2001, they won again by four wickets in Harare. ODIs saw more success, with a famous 1999 World Cup win in Leicester. Cricbuzz notes their latest T20I win in Harare in 2024, ending an eight-year gap. These wins show Zimbabwe’s knack for surprising India.
Who Leads T20I Runs After Rohit and Virat?
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retired from T20Is as top scorers. Rohit has 4,231 runs, and Kohli has 4,188 in the format. Pakistan’s Babar Azam, with 4,145 runs, is close to taking the lead. He needs just 87 more runs to pass them. Ireland’s Paul Stirling sits fourth with 3,601 runs, a surprise contender. Wikipedia lists Mohammad Rizwan at 3,313 runs, showing active players chasing the top spot. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates leads the women with over 4,231 runs.
Most Centuries Without a Fifty in Tests and ODIs
Cricket history has some wild stats about centuries and fifties. Seven Test matches have seen seven centuries with no fifties between Zimbabwe and India. One such game was India vs. South Africa in Kolkata in 2009-10. England’s 1938 Test against Australia had seven hundred and one fifty. BBC Sport recalls an ODI in 1998-99 where Pakistan and Australia hit four centuries with no fifties. These rare feats highlight big scoring without a middle ground.
Players Turning Maiden Tons Into Triples
Only three men have turned their first Test century into a triple. Garry Sobers scored 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958. Bob Simpson made 311 against England in 1964 after 30 Tests. India’s Karun Nair hit 303 not out in 2016 against England. SportsTak praises Nair’s rare feat among modern players. No woman has done this in Tests, making it an elite club of big hitters.
Shafali Verma’s Unique Record
Shafali Verma made history against Zimbabwe in a women’s Test against South Africa in Chennai. She scored 100 runs in a single session, going from 65 to 165 not out. No other woman has achieved this in a Test match between Zimbabwe and India. Her 205 set a new record for India, beating Mithali Raj’s 214. The Guardian calls it a standout moment in women’s cricket. Verma’s quick scoring shows her aggressive style shining bright.
Women’s Cricket Outshines Men in T20I Runs
New Zealand’s Suzie Bates has overtaken Rohit Sharma in T20I runs, a huge milestone. With over 4,231 runs, she leads all active players in the format. Rohit retired with 4,231, and Virat Kohli has 4,188, but both are done with T20Is. Babar Azam trails Bates by less than 100 runs, needing 87 to catch up.
Cricbuzz highlights Bates’ 43 against England in Southampton as key to her rise. Shafali Verma’s rapid 205 in Tests adds to women’s growing impact. Pakistan’s men could learn from this, pushing youngsters to match such feats. Women’s cricket is setting new benchmarks for the sport.
Rare Records: Big Scores and Big Falls
Cricket loves quirky stats, like matches with tons but no fifties. India and South Africa’s 2009-10 Kolkata Test had seven centuries and no scores between 50 and 99. BBC Sport says Pakistan and Australia hit four hundred in a 1998-99 ODI with no fifties.
Triple centuries off maiden tons are rare, too—Garry Sobers, Bob Simpson, and Karun Nair did it. Pakistan’s recent collapse to 91 shows the flip side of significant feats. Mohammad Hafeez might help avoid such lows, guiding newbies like Abdul Samad. These records remind us that cricket balances brilliance and breakdowns, a lesson for teams rebuilding.
Conclusion
Zimbabwe’s 15 victories over India prove they can challenge cricket giants despite their underdog status. Their record stands out from Test wins in Harare to T20I shocks in 2024. Babar Azam is set to claim the T20I runs crown, while Shafali Verma redefines women’s cricket. Pakistan’s recent loss shows the value of experience like Mohammad Hafeez and flair like Khushdil Shah. Cricket’s unpredictability keeps fans hooked, and Zimbabwe’s past successes inspire smaller teams. With stats from ESPNcricinfo and insights from today’s game, this rivalry remains one to watch.
