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ZimbabweAll-rounder
Innocent Kaia
- Age
- 34y 80d
- Bats
- Right-hand
- Bowls
- Right-arm leg break
- From
- Harare
- Age
- 34y 80d
- Bats
- Right-hand
- Bowls
- Right-arm leg break
- From
- Harare
Innocent Kaia is a small-statured batter who opens the innings, and his path to international cricket was a long one. He spent most of his twenties playing domestic cricket with little recognition before a national call-up finally arrived.
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That first opportunity came in 2021, when he was selected for a T20 series against Scotland at the age of 29. A year later, in 2022, he earned his ODI debut, which came against Afghanistan.
His breakthrough followed almost immediately. In the series after his debut, against Bangladesh, Kaia struck a century that won the match as Zimbabwe successfully hunted down a target of more than 300. That victory helped Zimbabwe claim a series win over Bangladesh that would be remembered, and the defeat had lasting consequences for the visitors, who went on to replace both their coach and their captain.
Kaia's progress continued into 2023. In February of that year he was given his first Test cap during the home series against West Indies, which made him a player who had now represented his side in all three international formats. Despite a late start, he has continued to deliver eye-catching displays since breaking into the ODI side.
