# Indian cricket team in Zimbabwe in 1998–99

The Indian cricket team toured Zimbabwe from 26 September to 10 October 1998 in a tour consisting of three One Day Internationals (ODI) and a one-off Test match. The ODI series was named Hero Honda series for sponsorship reasons.
This was India's third tour of Zimbabwe, after the tours of 1992–93 and 1996–97. It began with ODI games on 26 and 27 September, both of which was won by India by a margin of eight wickets. Zimbabwe won the final game by a 37-run margin played three days later, a win that their coach David Houghton attributed to Eddo Brandes. Henry Olonga who returned to Zimbabwe's Test side after two years played a significant role his team's 61-run win that followed the ODI series, and was named player of the match. Meanwhile, India's poor record in Tests away from home continued, having won only one away Test since 1986. The tour also included a three-day first-class game between the India and Zimbabwe Cricket Union President's XI.

## Squads

| Zimbabwe | India |
| Alistair Campbell (c) Andy Flower (vc) (wk) Murray Goodwin Craig Evans Gary Brent Paul Strang Andy Whittall Mluleki Nkala John Rennie Craig Wishart Heath Streak Adam Huckle Trevor Madondo Pommie Mbangwa Eddo Brandes Henry Olonga Neil Johnson | Mohammad Azharuddin (c) Ajay Jadeja (vc) Sachin Tendulkar Sourav Ganguly Robin Singh Rahul Dravid Navjot Singh Sidhu Javagal Srinath Ajit Agarkar Nayan Mongia (wk) Anil Kumble Harbhajan Singh Debashish Mohanty Rahul Sanghvi |
In the Zimbabwe side that was picked for the ODI series and the one-off Test, Grant Flower was a notable exclusion. He was dropped after he sustained a finger injury in a club game on 20 September. Other team regulars who missed out included Guy Whittall, who was rested after he underwent a knee surgery, and Everton Matambanadzo, who had an injured shoulder. John Rennie and Gary Brent were added back to the squad, alongside Zimbabwe under-19 player Mluleki Nkala. India's touring party included coach Anshuman Gaekwad and administrative manager C. T. Palanka.
Eddo Brandes returned to the side after recovering from an injury for the third ODI. Henry Olonga who was not included in the initial squad, was included in the one-off Test, making his comeback in the Test side after two years, alongside Neil Johnson.

## Tour match
### Three-day: Zimbabwe Cricket Union President's XI v Indians

* 2–4 October 1998 Scorecard
* Indians won by an innings and 71 runs Sunrise Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Charles Coventry and Ahmed Esat
* Zimbabwe Cricket Union President's XI won the toss and elected to bat.
* Dougie Marillier and Gus Mackay (Zimbabwe Cricket Union President's XI) made their first-class debut.
* Rahul Sanghvi (Indians) completed 200 wickets in first-class cricket.

## One-day Series
### First ODI

* 26 September Scorecard
| Zimbabwe 213 (50 overs) | v | India 216/2 (42.2 overs) |
| Alistair Campbell 53 (41) Harbhajan Singh 3/36 (10 overs) | | Sachin Tendulkar 127* (130) Heath Streak 1/30 (8 overs) |
* India won by 8 wickets Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Umpires: Ian Robinson (Zim) and Russell Tiffin (Zim) Player of the match: Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)
* India won the toss and elected to field.
* Trevor Madondo (Zim) made his ODI debut.
* Anil Kumble (Ind) completed 200 wickets in ODIs.

### Second ODI

* 27 September Scorecard
| Zimbabwe 235/7 (45 overs) | v | India 236/2 (41.5 overs) |
| Alistair Campbell 74 (82) Anil Kumble 2/49 (9 overs) | | Sourav Ganguly 107* (129) Alistair Campbell 1/28 (5 overs) |
* India won by 8 wickets Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Umpires: Graeme Evans (Zim) and Ian Robinson (Zim) Player of the match: Sourav Ganguly (Ind)
* India won the toss and elected to field.
* Overnight rain led to delayed start of play reducing the match to 45 overs per side.
* Mluleki Nkala (Zim) made his ODI debut.
* Alistair Campbell (Zim) passed 2,000 runs in ODIs.

### Third ODI

* 30 September Scorecard
| Zimbabwe 259/5 (50 overs) | v | India 222 (47.2 overs) |
| Craig Wishart 102 (124) Ajit Agarkar 2/45 (10 overs) | | Robin Singh 56 (65) Heath Streak 3/33 (9 overs) |
* Zimbabwe won by 37 runs Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Kevan Barbour and Russell Tiffin (Zim) Player of the match: Craig Wishart (Zim)
* India won the toss and elected to field.
* Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) played his 200th ODI.

## Test Series
### Only Test

* 7–10 October Scorecard
* Zimbabwe won by 61 runs Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (SA) and Ian Robinson (Zim) Player of the match: Henry Olonga (Zim)
* India won the toss and elected to field.
* Ajit Agarkar, Robin Singh (Ind), and Neil Johnson (Zim) made their Test debuts.
* Anil Kumble (Ind) completed 200 wickets in Tests.
* Andy Flower (Zim) became the first Zimbabwe player to complete 2,000 runs in Tests.