Zimbabwe managed to beat India not once but twice the last time they were here and coach Andy Waller is hoping that his wards would spring the same surprise in at least one match of the five-game ODI series that starts here tomorrow.
"All along we've prepared and hoped we might surprise them in one of the games. You've got to be realistic, but as long as we're competitive and do the best we can," said Waller.
Zimbabwe beat in both the matches of a tri-series during the visitors' last trip here two years ago.
"Our guys are hugely excited about this. It's a great experience for them, and we've been preparing knowing that the best side in the world are coming. I think the guys are up for it. Hopefully all the hard work we've put in in the last nine weeks is going to pay off," he added.
The India-Zimbabwe limited-over series is Waller's first international assignment as head coach. He took over from Steve Mangongo, who had held the position in a caretaker's role until the end of the home series against Bangladesh in May.
The Indian team might be missing some of its senior players, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in this tour but Waller insisted that Zimbabwe did not consider the squad a depleted one.
"I think they've just got so many players. With the new guys who've come in, I don't think there's a huge difference to be honest," said the coach.
"We know that they're all very good cricketers, so we don't look at it like a weakened attack at all.
