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India's top order were under pressure against Zimbabwe in the second ODI while chasing a small total, but skipper KL Rahul said his side was not nervous after they secured an easy five-wicket win to clinch the series with one match remaining in Harare on Saturday, August 20.
Chasing 162 to win, India saw themselves at 97 for 4 at the end of the 14th over before Sanju Samson's unbeaten 43 off 39 balls took the visitors home with 24.2 overs left.
"We bat deep and it's good for some of the guys to get time in the middle. We weren't nervous," Rahul said at the post-match presentation. "They (Zimbabwe) have some quality bowlers and they bowled well to Bangladesh, I watched on the television. The bowlers did come hard, they're tall and big and strong boys.
"Good challenge for us as batters, but we bat deep so it wasn't a worry." Rahul promoted himself at the top of the batting order to open the India innings with
Shikhar Dhawan but was out for 1 in the second over of the run chase. It didn't work (on the changed batting order), I wanted to get some runs but it didn't happen. Hopefully in the next game," he added.
Meanwhile, man of the match Sanju Samson said he enjoyed keeping wickets and contributing with the bat.
"Feels good to spend time in the middle. I took three catches but I missed a stumping too; as keepers, we're used to listening to things we didn't do well," said Samson, who took three catches and scored an unbeaten 43.
Mohammed Siraj, who broke Zimbabwe's initial threat in the ninth over, said,
"In West Indies and England also I bowled well, my rhythm was good in the first match as well, so my plan was to hit an area consistently without worrying whether I will get wickets or not."
Siraj finished the match with one wicket for 16 runs in eight overs.
