India Announces Squad for T20I Series Against Zimbabwe; Shubman Gill to Lead

India Announces Squad for T20I Series Against Zimbabwe; Shubman Gill to Lead

In an exciting development for Indian cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, scheduled to be played from July 6-14 at the Harare Sports Club. The team will be captained by Shubman Gill, with several new faces earning their maiden call-ups.

Newcomers to Watch

Among the debutants are Abhishek Sharma, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, and Tushar Deshpande. Their impressive performances in domestic and IPL cricket have earned them a spot in the national team.

• Nitish Reddy: Representing Andhra in domestic cricket, Reddy was a breakout star for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024. He scored 303 runs in 13 innings, including two fifties, at an average of 33.67 and a strike rate of 143. Additionally, he claimed three wickets with his seam bowling and was awarded the Best Emerging Player for IPL 2024.

Experienced Players in the Squad

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, both part of India’s squad for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, are also included in the squad for the Zimbabwe tour. The team will be strengthened by the presence of travelling reserves Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan.

Building for the Future

Since 2010, India’s tours of Zimbabwe have been an opportunity to test and integrate young talents into the international arena. This strategy will continue as India prepares for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with Sri Lanka.

Series Schedule

The series against Zimbabwe will commence shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, which ends on June 29 with the final at Kensington Oval in Barbados. This will mark the fourth bilateral men’s T20I series between India and Zimbabwe, following previous encounters in 2010, 2015, and 2016.

India’s Squad for T20I Series Against Zimbabwe

• Shubman Gill (C)
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Ruturaj Gaikwad
• Abhishek Sharma
• Rinku Singh
• Sanju Samson (WK)
• Dhruv Jurel (WK)
• Nitish Reddy
• Riyan Parag
• Washington Sundar
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Avesh Khan
• Khaleel Ahmed
• Mukesh Kumar
• Tushar Deshpande

Cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the series, anticipating stellar performances from both seasoned players and newcomers. This series not only promises competitive cricket but also serves as a critical step in building a robust team for future international challenges.