Zimbabwe men's cricket team
Short answer: Zimbabwe, run by Zimbabwe Cricket, became a Full Member in 1992 and played their first Test against India in Harare that October. They have not won a senior ICC title. They play three ODIs in India in January 2027: Kolkata (3 Jan), Hyderabad (6 Jan) and Mumbai (9 Jan).
Key facts
- Governing body
- Zimbabwe Cricket
- ICC Full Member since
- 1992 (Associate from 1981)
- First Test
- v India, Harare, 18–22 October 1992
- First ODI
- v Australia, Trent Bridge, 9 June 1983
- First T20I
- v Bangladesh, Khulna, 28 November 2006
- Men's senior ICC titles (as of Nov 2026)
- None
Short history
Zimbabwe became an ICC Associate in 1981 and announced themselves at the 1983 World Cup by beating Australia at Trent Bridge in their first ODI. They became the ninth Test nation in 1992, drawing their first Test against India in Harare. The late 1990s and early 2000s were their strongest period. Since then the team has had long spells of rebuilding, and they have not won a senior ICC title.
Zimbabwe in India (our general view)
Indian pitches are generally slower and lower than Zimbabwe's home surfaces, so their batters' ability to rotate strike against spin through the middle overs tends to decide how competitive they are. All three January 2027 ODIs start at 14:00 IST, so the second innings is played largely after sunset; Kolkata and Mumbai can have humid January evenings.
January 2027 series
Kolkata (Eden Gardens) on 3 January, Hyderabad on 6 January and Mumbai (Wankhede) on 9 January. Details on the series page.
Fantasy angle (our general view)
In mismatched-looking games, the favourite's top order often scores most of the runs; but when the underdog bats first, their top three can face a lot of balls. Avoid picking on reputation alone and wait for XIs. See differential picks.
Fixtures in India on our schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 3 Jan 2027 | India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 14:00 IST |
| Wed, 6 Jan 2027 | India vs Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium (Uppal), Hyderabad | 14:00 IST |
| Sat, 9 Jan 2027 | India vs Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI | Wankhede, Mumbai | 14:00 IST |
FAQ
When does Zimbabwe play India in 2027?
Three ODIs: 3 January at Kolkata, 6 January at Hyderabad and 9 January at Mumbai, all starting at 14:00 IST, per BCCI.
What was Zimbabwe's first ODI?
Against Australia at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup, which Zimbabwe won.
Who did Zimbabwe play in their first Test?
India, at Harare Sports Club, in October 1992. The match was drawn.