India will lock horns against Zimbabwe in a must-win game of the Super 8 stage at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Thursday. India’s struggles against spinners, especially off-spin, have been palpable in the tournament and Chennai’s game could not have come at a worse time as the track is mostly conducive to the spinners.

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak admitted that the team played their worst game in two years against South Africa, as the 76-run loss took a massive hit on the side’s NRR. As the West Indies clinched a 107-run win against Zimbabwe, India will need to play their best game in two years to make up for the negative NRR.

That India will play the evening game after the afternoon clash between the West Indies and South Africa, will also define hosts’ approach. Axar Patel is expected to return to the team’s playing XI, and there is food for thought to include Sanju Samson in the team.

India’s top three left-handers have struggled at different times against the opposition’s off-spinners, and it won’t be surprising to note if Sikandar Raza backs himself to bowl the first over.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe was sloppy in the field against the West Indies as Shimron Hetmyer was given two lives, and the left-hander made sure he punished the opposition for those drops.

Head to Head: Matches: 13, Won by India: 10, Won by Zimbabwe: 3.

India Squad: Ishan Kishan(w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson

Zimbabwe Squad: Tadiwanashe Marumani(w), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza(c), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Ben Curran, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza