Written by: Sachin
Fact-checked by: Cricket Research Desk
Last updated: September 13, 2026
The India national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team timeline is one of the most underrated rivalries in cricket. It doesn’t hold the political significance of India-Pakistan nor does it come with the historical baggage of the Ashes. But for more than four decades this fixture has produced moments fondly recalled by cricket fans: Kapil Dev’s legendary 175 not out in 1983, Zimbabwe’s Test wins between the two sides back-to-back in 1998 and ’01 and even the odd T20I upset showing Zimbabwe can sometimes be competitive against India on the right day.
Zimbabwe has always been a challenging opponent away from home for Indian fans. Defeating India is among the greatest achievement in the Zimbabwean cricketing history. A comprehensive timeline of the India vs Zimbabwe Test match in all formats,major series and iconic moments.
If you’re searching for India vs Zimbabwe T20 match score, or information about the India vs Zimbabwe series 2026, or asking “Has Zimbabwe ever beaten India?, this guide has you covered. Covering over 40 years of cricket between the India national cricket team and Zimbabwe national cricket team, all warfare goes below in quick type.
Quick Answer
India and Zimbabwe have played each other across Tests, ODIs and T20Is since 1983. India holds the stronger overall record in every format. Their 2026 meetings included a dominant 72-run India win in the T20 World Cup Super 8 in Chennai and a 3–0 India sweep in the July bilateral T20I series in Harare. Zimbabwe has beaten India twice in Tests, 10 times in ODIs and three times in T20Is, but has never won a bilateral T20I series against India.
Latest India vs Zimbabwe Result
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Latest Meeting | 26 July 2026 – 3rd T20I, Harare |
| Result | India won by 35 runs |
| Series Result | India won 3–0 |
| Latest World Cup Meeting | India won by 72 runs (26 Feb 2026, Chennai) |
| Completed T20I Record | India 11 – 3 Zimbabwe (14 completed matches) |
India National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Timeline: Major Matches & Milestones
This table maps every major milestone in the India national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team timeline across all formats.
| Date | Format / Event | Result | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 June 1983 | ODI World Cup (First meeting) | India won | First-ever India vs Zimbabwe match, Leicester |
| 18 June 1983 | ODI World Cup (Tunbridge Wells) | India won by 31 runs | Kapil Dev’s 175* off 138 balls from 17/5 |
| 1987 | ODI World Cup | India won | India continued World Cup dominance |
| 18–22 Oct 1992 | First Test (Harare) | Drawn | Zimbabwe’s first Test against India |
| Oct 1992 | ODI series (Zimbabwe) | India won 3–0 | India’s first bilateral series in Zimbabwe |
| 13–17 Mar 1993 | Only Test (Delhi) | India won by an innings and 13 runs | India’s first Test win over Zimbabwe |
| 7–10 Oct 1998 | Only Test (Harare) | Zimbabwe won by 61 runs | Zimbabwe’s first-ever Test win over India |
| 8 Dec 2000 | 3rd ODI (Jodhpur) | India won | Sachin Tendulkar’s 146 off 153 balls |
| 15–18 June 2001 | 2nd Test (Harare) | Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets | Zimbabwe’s second Test win over India; chased 157 |
| 2002 | Test (Nagpur) | India won by an innings and 101 runs | Virender Sehwag’s 319; India’s biggest Test win |
| 2005 | Test series (Zimbabwe) | India won 2–0 | India’s dominant tour of Zimbabwe |
| 12 June 2010 | First T20I (Harare) | India won by 6 wickets | First T20I between the two sides |
| 2010 | T20I series (Zimbabwe) | India won 2–0 | India’s first T20I series win in Zimbabwe |
| 19 July 2015 | T20I (Harare) | Zimbabwe won by 10 runs | Zimbabwe’s first T20I win over India |
| 2015 | T20I series (Zimbabwe) | Drawn 1–1 | Zimbabwe’s best T20I series result vs India |
| 2016 | T20I series (Zimbabwe) | India won 2–1 | Close series; Zimbabwe won one match |
| 6 Nov 2022 | T20 World Cup (Melbourne) | India won | Suryakumar Yadav’s 61* |
| 6–14 July 2024 | T20I series (Zimbabwe) | India won 4–1 | Zimbabwe won the series opener by 13 runs |
| 7 July 2024 | 2nd T20I (Harare) | India won by 100 runs | Abhishek Sharma’s 100 off 47 balls |
| 26 Feb 2026 | T20 World Cup (Chennai) | India won by 72 runs | India 256/4 vs Zimbabwe 184/6; Brian Bennett 97* |
| 23–26 July 2026 | T20I series (Zimbabwe) | India won 3–0 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s breakout series |
The 1983 World Cup: Kapil Dev’s 175* at Tunbridge Wells
No India national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team timeline would be complete without this match. On 18 June 1983, at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells, India collapsed to 17/5 against a spirited Zimbabwe attack. What followed became one of the most defining innings in cricket history.
Kapil Dev walked in and played an unbeaten knock of 175 off just 138 balls, single-handedly dragging India to 266/8. India went on to win the match by 31 runs. There is no video footage of the innings because the BBC was covering the West Indies vs Australia match that day, but the legend of Kapil’s 175 has only grown with time.
The innings became one of the defining moments of India’s 1983 World Cup campaign and remains one of the most celebrated individual performances in World Cup history.
India National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team: Test Record
Head-to-Head Test Record
| Matches | India Won | Zimbabwe Won | Drawn | Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo and Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians
India’s First Test Win: 1993 at Delhi
India’s first Test victory over Zimbabwe came in the one-off Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi from 13 to 17 March 1993. India declared their first innings at 536/7, with Vinod Kambli scoring a memorable 227.
Zimbabwe managed 322 in reply and were forced to follow on. India bowled them out for 201 in the second innings to win by an innings and 13 runs.
Zimbabwe’s Two Test Victories Over India
Zimbabwe has beaten India in Test cricket twice, and both wins came on Zimbabwean soil.
First Test Win: 1998 at Harare
The one-off Test at the Harare Sports Club from 7 to 10 October 1998 saw Zimbabwe beat India by 61 runs. Zimbabwe scored 221 and 293, while India managed 280 and 173. This was Zimbabwe’s first-ever Test victory over India and one of their finest hours in red-ball cricket.
Second Test Win: 2001 at Harare
The second Test of the 2001 series, played from 15 to 18 June at Harare, saw Zimbabwe win by 4 wickets to level the two-match series 1–1. Zimbabwe had made 315 in their first innings, India replied with 237 and 234, leaving Zimbabwe 157 to win.
Zimbabwe chased down 157 for the loss of six wickets to win the Test by four wickets and level the series 1–1.
Notable Test Performances
- Highest individual score: Virender Sehwag’s 319 at Nagpur (2002)
- Most runs: Rahul Dravid – 979 runs in 13 innings at an average of 97.90
- Most wickets: Anil Kumble – 38 wickets in 7 Tests
India National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team: ODI Record
Head-to-Head ODI Record
| Matches | India Won | Zimbabwe Won | Tied | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | 54 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo and Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians
Notable ODI Performances
- India’s biggest ODI win: 10 wickets (169 balls remaining) at Harare (2016)
- Highest individual score: Sachin Tendulkar’s 146 at Jodhpur (2000)
India has dominated the overall ODI record, winning 54 of the 66 completed matches between the teams. Sachin Tendulkar’s 146 off 153 balls in Jodhpur remains the highest individual score by an Indian against Zimbabwe in ODIs.
India National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team: T20I Record
Head-to-Head T20I Record
| Completed T20Is | India Won | Zimbabwe Won | Tied | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo and NDTV Sports
Important note: A broader record of 17 scheduled matches includes three cancelled fixtures. The 14-match figure refers to completed T20Is only. When all scheduled matches are counted, India leads 14–3 overall.
Zimbabwe’s T20I Victories Over India
Zimbabwe has defeated India in T20Is on three occasions:
- 19 July 2015: Zimbabwe won by 10 runs at Harare
- 18 June 2016: Zimbabwe won by 2 runs at Harare
- 6 July 2024: Zimbabwe won the series opener by 13 runs at Harare
However, Zimbabwe has never won a bilateral T20I series against India. Their best result was a 1–1 draw in the 2015 series.
India Tour of Zimbabwe 2026: Results, Schedule and Squads
Series Result: India Won 3–0
The India tour of Zimbabwe 2026 was a three-match T20I series played at the Harare Sports Club in July 2026. India completed a commanding 3–0 whitewash.
| Match | Date | India | Zimbabwe | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | 23 July 2026 | 126/3 (13.2 ov) | 125/7 (20 ov) | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2nd T20I | 25 July 2026 | 219/5 (20 ov) | 129 all out (17.5 ov) | India won by 90 runs |
| 3rd T20I | 26 July 2026 | 192/5 (20 ov) | 157/7 (20 ov) | India won by 35 runs |
Source: ESPNcricinfo and India Today
In the third T20I, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi starred with an 81-run knock from 49 balls, earning both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. He finished the series with 151 runs. This was India’s first 3–0 T20I series whitewash over Zimbabwe since 2010.
India Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 Squad
India named a refreshed squad for the Zimbabwe tour, with Shreyas Iyer leading the side. VVS Laxman served as the stand-in head coach.
India Squad: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Ravi Bishnoi.
Zimbabwe Squad: Sikandar Raza (Captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Milton Shumba, Tafadzwa Tsiga.
India vs Zimbabwe at the 2026 T20 World Cup: Match Details
The most recent World Cup meeting between India and Zimbabwe took place on 26 February 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 February 2026 |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| India | 256/4 (20 overs) |
| Zimbabwe | 184/6 (20 overs) |
| Result | India won by 72 runs |
| Player of the Match | Hardik Pandya – 50* off 23 balls |
| Zimbabwe top scorer | Brian Bennett – 97* off 59 balls |
| India key performers | Abhishek Sharma (55), Hardik Pandya (50*) |
Hardik Pandya’s 23-ball fifty and economical bowling earned him the Player of the Match award. Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97, which included eight fours and six sixes, was Zimbabwe’s standout batting performance in the chase.
Has Zimbabwe Ever Beaten India?
Yes, Zimbabwe has beaten India in all three formats.
In Test Cricket
Zimbabwe has beaten India twice in Test cricket. The first win came in 1998 at Harare by 61 runs, and the second came in 2001 at Harare by 4 wickets.
In ODI Cricket
Zimbabwe has beaten India 10 times in ODIs out of 66 completed matches. Most of these wins have come on Zimbabwean soil.
In T20I Cricket
Zimbabwe has beaten India three times in T20Is. However, Zimbabwe has never won a bilateral T20I series against India.
Where Can I Watch the India vs Zimbabwe Match?
For fans asking where can I watch the India vs. Zimbabwe match?, here are the broadcasting details for the 2026 series:
- Live Telecast: The series was broadcast live on the United8 Sports Network and DD Sports (free-to-air).
- Live Streaming: Fans could watch the India vs Zimbabwe T20 live streaming on the FanCode app and website.
Broadcast and streaming rights can change between series, so viewers should check the official broadcaster and cricket-board announcements for future fixtures. The India vs Zimbabwe schedule 2026 for the July tour was fully completed, and any future fixtures will be announced by the respective cricket boards.
Notable T20I Batting Performances: India vs Zimbabwe
This table lists some of the most notable individual batting performances in T20Is between the two sides. It is not a definitive ranking of highest scores.
| Player | Runs | Balls | Team | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | 97* | 59 | Zimbabwe | Chennai | 26 Feb 2026 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 100 | 47 | India | Harare | 7 July 2024 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 81 | 49 | India | Harare | 26 July 2026 |
| Rohit Sharma | 72* | 44 | India | Harare | 13 June 2010 |
| Chamu Chibhabha | 67 | 51 | Zimbabwe | Harare | 19 July 2015 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 61* | 25 | India | Melbourne | 6 Nov 2022 |
For reference, the highest individual score in an India vs Zimbabwe T20I remains Abhishek Sharma’s 100 off 47 balls at Harare in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many times have India and Zimbabwe played each other?
Answer: India and Zimbabwe have completed 11 Tests, 66 ODIs and 14 T20Is against each other as of September 2026. Three other scheduled T20Is were cancelled.
2. Who has won more India vs Zimbabwe matches?
Answer: India has won more matches in every format. India leads Tests 7–2, ODIs 54–10, and T20Is 11–3 in completed matches.
3. What is India’s record against Zimbabwe in Tests?
Answer: India has played 11 Tests against Zimbabwe, winning 7, losing 2, and drawing 2.
4. What is India’s record against Zimbabwe in ODIs?
Answer: India has played 66 ODIs against Zimbabwe, winning 54, losing 10, with 2 ties.
5. What is India’s record against Zimbabwe in T20Is?
Answer: India and Zimbabwe have completed 14 T20Is against each other, with India winning 11 and Zimbabwe winning 3. Three other scheduled matches were cancelled.
6. Who won the India vs Zimbabwe series in 2026?
Answer: India won the July 2026 bilateral T20I series 3–0. India also won the 2026 T20 World Cup meeting by 72 runs.
7. What was the result of India vs Zimbabwe in the 2026 T20 World Cup?
Answer: India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in the Super 8 match in Chennai. India scored 256/4, while Zimbabwe managed 184/6.
8. Who scored 97 for Zimbabwe against India in 2026?
Answer: Brian Bennett scored an unbeaten 97 off 59 balls for Zimbabwe against India in the 2026 T20 World Cup match in Chennai.
9. Has Zimbabwe ever beaten India in a T20I series?
Answer: No, Zimbabwe has never won a bilateral T20I series against India. Their best result was a 1–1 draw in 2015.
10. Where is the IND vs ZIM match played?
Answer: Historically, India vs Zimbabwe matches have been played in both countries. The 2026 bilateral series was held at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe. The 2026 T20 World Cup match was played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India.
11. Where does the India national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team timeline begin?
Answer: The India national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team timeline begins on 11 June 1983, when the two sides met for the first time at the ODI World Cup in Leicester.
Conclusion
The India national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team timeline is more than a list of results. It is a story of a giant and a giant-killer, of Kapil Dev’s 175, of Zimbabwe’s historic Test wins in 1998 and 2001, and of India’s continued dominance in the T20 era.
India holds a commanding lead in every format, but Zimbabwe’s occasional victories serve as reminders that cricket remains a game of unpredictable moments. Any complete India national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team timeline has to include both the one-sided results and the rare upsets, because together they explain why this fixture has lasted more than four decades.
The 2026 season added two important chapters to this rivalry: a 72-run India win in the T20 World Cup in Chennai and a 3–0 India sweep in the July bilateral series in Harare. As both teams look ahead to future fixtures, fans can expect more memorable moments in this quietly compelling contest.
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