Zim vs Ind, 1st ODI: KL Rahul's unbeaten 100 helps visitors to comfortable win

Harare: KL Rahul's unbeaten 100 helps India win the first ODI of the three-match series by 9 wickets against Zimbabwe, here on Saturday. Rahul also has become the first Indian cricketer to score a hundred on debut.

Although inexperienced, Indian bowlers bundled out Zimbabwe for 168 after MS Dhoni elected to bowl in the first ODI in Harare on Saturday.

IND 173-1 (42.3 overs); ZIM 168 (49.5 overs)

Record! KL Rahul (87*) becomes the first Indian cricketer to score the highest run score on debut.

Now Rayudu slams his sixth fifty as India inch closer to the finish line.

Ambati Rayudu reaches 1000 ODI runs.

KL Rahul brought up his maiden ODI half-century in 57 deliveries. Ambati Rayudu on the other hand has shifted gears with Rahul providing good support.

Tendai Chatara and Chamu Chibhabha are creating a lot of problems for the Indian batsmen. KL Rahul and Ambati Rayudu are in charge of proceedings with the bat. Rayudu, who was one of the two Indian batsmen who registered a ton in the series last year, is currently struggling.

WICKET! Karun Nair was the first to depart. The debutante was looking a bit nervous out in the middle and ultimately fell prey to a shorter delivery by Tendai Chatara. Nair added 7 runs to the Indian run-chase.

Zimbabwe innings:

Indian pacers Barinder Sran, Dhawal Kulkarni and Jasprit Bumrah left Zimbabwe tottering as the trio accounted for eight of Zimbabwe's wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel scalped a wicket each.

Left-arm pacer Sran trapped PJ Moor before the wickets while Kulkarni sent Masakadza packing after the former Zimbabwe skipper edged one to Dhoni.

Jasprit Bumrah disturbed the timber to dismiss Chamu Chibhabha and give India their third wicket.

Axar Patel joined the party after he sent Craig Ervine packing. The Zimbabwean left-hander could not dispatch Patel's half-tracker and was caught in the deep.

Sikandar Raza and Elton Chigumbara offered some resistance as Zimbabwe crossed the 100-run mark.

However, Sran removed Raza after the Zimbabwean duo stitched 48-run partnership.

Debutant Chahal secured his maiden wicket as Richmond Mutumbami got out for 15.

Right arm-pacer Kulkarni added one more wicket to his account after he disturbed the timber to end Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer's innings.

The new-look Indian side look to begin their Zimbabwe campaign on a winning note.

KL Rahul, Karun Nair and Yuzvendra Chahal will make their India debut as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co play the first ODI.

While India are favourites to win the series, Zimbabwe will be keen to topple the visitors. Makhaya Ntini, ZImbabwe coach, was not too impressed with inexperienced sides that are touring Zimbabwe.

In a pre-match conference on Friday, former South African pacer lashed out, saying, " We want to compete with the big boys. We're creating a new venture here. We want to make sure that this country gets to play more games, and if you send us a team that is not your strongest team, we're going to put them under the carpet so that they go home and tell people that they need to send their strongest team."