5 Indian legends who never faced Zimbabwe

• Five Indian cricketers have never played a match against Zimbabwe
• Timing and selection gaps prevented Agarwal, Saini, Dube, Singh and Sharma
• Most players debuted after India's last series against Zimbabwe in 2022

In the vast and busy world of international cricket, it’s a surprising quirk that some of India's well-known players have never faced certain opponents. Here’s a look at five notable cricketers who have never played a single match against Zimbabwe.

Mayank Agarwal

A stylish and aggressive top-order batsman, Mayank Agarwal became a mainstay in India's Test side following his debut in 2018. He has two double centuries to his name and has been a reliable opener in the longest format. However, his career timeline is a key reason he's on this list. India's last Test match against Zimbabwe was way back in 2005, long before Agarwal entered the international scene. While he has also played One Day Internationals, his limited opportunities in the white-ball formats did not coincide with India's more recent ODI series against Zimbabwe. Tours to Zimbabwe in 2016 and 2022, which featured many younger players, came at times when Agarwal was either not in the white-ball setup or was focused on Test cricket, leaving this surprising gap in his career record.

Navdeep Saini

Known for his express pace, Navdeep Saini burst onto the international scene in 2019, impressing with his speed and bounce. He has since represented India in all three formats of the game. However, despite being in and around the national team for several years, he has never had the opportunity to play against Zimbabwe. During the periods when India toured Zimbabwe, the selection committee often opted for a different set of fast bowlers, giving chances to players returning from injury or those who had impressed in the IPL. Saini's own journey has been affected by injuries and competition for places, meaning he was never part of the squads that travelled to Harare, nor was he selected for World Cup matches where India faced them. As a result, the African nation remains an un-ticked box on his international fixture list.

Shivam Dube

A powerful left-handed batsman and a handy medium-pacer, Shivam Dube has become a sought-after player in the T20 format, especially for his six-hitting ability. He made his debut for India in 2019 but has had a stop-start international career. His most significant resurgence in the Indian team came in late 2023 and 2024. This timing is crucial, as India's most recent encounters with Zimbabwe happened in 2022. During that period, Dube was not in the national selectors' immediate plans, having fallen down the pecking order after his initial run in the team. By the time he cemented his place again as a finishing all-rounder, the fixture cycle had moved on. His career is a classic example of how a player's form and selection status can make them miss out on playing against certain teams.

Rinku Singh

Perhaps the most exciting finisher to emerge from the IPL in recent years, Rinku Singh's journey to the Indian team has been nothing short of inspirational. He made his highly anticipated T20I debut for India in August 2023 and immediately made an impact with his calm demeanour and explosive hitting in the death overs. His inclusion on this list is purely a matter of timing. India's last series against Zimbabwe took place in mid-2022, a full year before Rinku earned his first international cap. As a relatively new entrant to the international stage, he simply has not had the chance to face them yet. Given his importance in the T20 setup, it is highly likely that he will get the opportunity to play against Zimbabwe in the near future, but for now, he remains one of the prominent new stars yet to do so.

Jitesh Sharma

Another player who translated stellar IPL performances into a national call-up is the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman, Jitesh Sharma. Known for his fearless approach and ability to score quick runs from the moment he arrives at the crease, Jitesh made his T20I debut for India in 2023. Like his contemporary Rinku Singh, his international career began after India's last fixtures against Zimbabwe. He was brought into the Indian T20 side as a specialist finisher and backup wicketkeeper, roles he had perfected for Punjab Kings. Since the team had already completed its tour to Zimbabwe in 2022, the opportunity has not yet arisen for Jitesh to test his skills against their bowlers. His career is just getting started, and this is one statistical anomaly that is likely to change in the coming years.