Team India led by Shubman Gill leaves for Zimbabwe for the upcoming T20I series scheduled to start from July 6. However, captain Gill who was with the Indian T20 World Cup-bound squad will join the side in Harare. National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman will coach team India in the upcoming series.
Senior players including Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav are rested for this series, The cricket board has made three changes in the squad adding Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma, and Harshit Rana as replacements for T20 World Cup 2024 winners, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe. The World Cup stars join the squad after taking rest in India.
“Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma, and Harshit Rana added to India’s squad for first two T20Is. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana as replacements for Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe,” wrote BCCI in their official statement.
"Originally slated to join the Zimbabwe-bound squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series starting Saturday, 6th July, the trio will travel to India first with the rest of the ICC T20 World Cup-winning Indian squad before departing for Harare," the statement further added.
The BCCI took to X to post pictures of those who boarded the flight, which includes Sharma, Parag, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Tushar Deshpande and NCA head Laxman.
With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retiring form the shortest format of the game, the T20 series against Zimbabwe will provide the youngsters with the perfect opportunity to cement their places in the team for future series.
ALSO READ: David Miller heartbroken after South Africa's T20 World Cup 2024 final loss, says 'Words don't explain how I'm feeling' in emotional post
ALSO READ: Amidst Hurricane Beryl, Team India's chartered flight arranged; here's when T20 World Cup 2024 champions will reach Delhi
Schedule for India vs Zimbabwe T20I series:
| IND vs ZIM, 1st T20I | July 6 | Saturday |
| IND vs ZIM, 2nd T20I | July 7 | Sunday |
| IND vs ZIM, 3rd T20I | July 10 | Wednesday |
| IND vs ZIM, 4th T20I | July 13 | Saturday |
| IND vs ZIM, 5yh T20I | July 14 | Sunday |
India squad for 1st and 2nd T20I Zimbabwe Series
Shubman Gill (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Harshit Rana.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
