MS Dhoni’s young guns sealed the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe after winning the second ODI by eight wickets in Harare on Monday.
The bowlers set up the victory yet again after bundling out Zimbabwe for 126, then KL Rahul (33), Ambati Rayudu (41*) and Karun Nair (39) took India to the target with ease.
The Quint takes a look at some of the interesting numbers from the second ODI.
1. Sibanda’s First 50 After 33 Months
Vusimuzi Sibanda hit his 21st half-century in ODIs in this match. The Zimbabwean scored 53 runs.
Prior to this fifty, the last time he scored a half-century in an ODI was more than 33 months ago - in August 2013 against Pakistan in Harare.
2. Zimbabwe’s Second Lowest Total Against India
Zimbabwe’s 126 was their second-lowest total in ODIs against India. Their previous lowest against India was 65 they scored in Harare in 2005.
The home team holds the record of scoring the lowest total in ODIs. They scored 35 against Sri Lanka in April 2004.
3. 50-Run Opening Stand by Players Under the Age of 25
KL Rahul and Karun Nair added 58 runs at the start of India’s run-chase. This was the first time since 2003 that an Indian opening pair - with both openers under the age of 25 - had stitched together a 50-run opening partnership.
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag had added 69 runs against Bangladesh.
4. Rahul’s Aggregate in First Two ODIs
KL Rahul followed up his debut hundred on Saturday with a 50-ball 33 in the second ODI.
His aggregate of 133 runs after two ODIs is the second-highest among Indian batsmen. Only Navjot Singh Sidhu had scored more runs - 148 runs - after his first two ODIs.
5. Highest Average After First Two ODIs
KL Rahul, after his first two ODIs, has a batting average of 133.00. This is the highest batting average among Indian batsmen after their first two ODIs.
WV Raman, the graceful left-hander from Tamil Nadu, held the previous highest average; he averaged 103.00 after his first two ODIs.
6. India’s Second Most Comprehensive Win Under MS Dhoni
India’s win in the second ODI - with 139 balls remaining - was their second-most comprehensive win under MS Dhoni as captain.
The most comprehensive ODI win under MS Dhoni as captain remains the win against UAE in the ICC World Cup 2015, when India chased down 103 at Perth with 187 balls to spare.
7. India Notches 2nd Most ODI Wins Ever
The 8-wicket win on Monday was India’s 453rd win, which now puts them in second place in the list of most wins in ODIs.
Prior to Monday’s match, they were level with Pakistan for the second-most number of ODI wins. Only Australia (540 wins) have more wins in ODIs.
8. Lowest Aggregate in an India-Zimbabwe ODI
The match aggregate of 255 runs is the lowest in an ODI between Zimbabwe and India. Zimbabwe were bundled out for 126 and then India replied back with 129/2.