Batsman Ambati Rayudu and left-arm seam bowler Jaydev Unadkat will play their first ODIs, while India is captained by Virat Kohli after Mahendra Singh Dhoni was rested for the five-match limited-overs tour.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik also gets a chance at Harare Sports Club in the absence of Dhoni.
Zimbabwe retained the spine of its regular team and is led by Brendan Taylor. Legspinner Tinotenda Mutombodzi was picked for just his second one-dayer.
The hosts are under new coach Andy Waller for the first time, the father of batsman Malcolm Waller, who also plays.
Teams:
Zimbabwe: H Masakadza, BRM Taylor(captain/wk), SC Williams, MN Waller, E Chigumbura, TC Mutombodzi, P Utseya, KM Jarvis, TL Chatara
India: S Dhawan, RG Sharma, V Kohli(captain), KD Karthik(wk), SK Raina, AT Rayudu, RA Jadeja, A Mishra, Mohammed Shami, R Vinay Kumar, JD Unadkat