IND vs ZIM T20 Preview
When the young brigade without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli takes on Zimbabwe in the five-match T20 series starting on Saturday, it will also mark the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket in this format.
Amid the ongoing celebration of the T20 World Cup victory in India, this young team of IPL stars led by Shubman Gill would like to start their winning streak.
Abhishek Sharma of Punjab, who performed brilliantly for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, and Riyan Parag of Assam, who plays for Rajasthan Royals, will make their debut through this series. In the last few years, Rohit and Kohli have been out of many bilateral series in T20 cricket. Now after the retirement of both of them from T20 international cricket, their absence will definitely be felt. It is difficult to compensate for this, but then change is the law of the world. Zimbabwe is not a strong team, but there is not much difference between the two teams in the T20 format.
Sikandar Raza, who played for Punjab Kings in the IPL, can prove to be a challenge for India. Shivam Dubey, Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be available from the third match itself. India’s future T20 captain Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav will also return to this format in the future, so there is not much space vacant in the final XI. From now till the 2026 T20 World Cup, the Indian team will play 34 matches in this format.
Captain Gill will open the innings and it remains to be seen whether his close friend Abhishek Sharma gets a chance to debut or Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad plays. If Abhishek opens the innings, then Gaikwad can come at number three. Parag can bat at number four, so his chances of selection are high.
T20 cricket’s aggressive finisher Rinku Singh can come at number five while Jitesh Sharma or Dhruv Jurel can be fielded at number six.
In bowling, Avesh Khan and Khalil Ahmed are certain to play while dangerous death overs bowler Mukesh Kumar will be the third fast bowler. Washington Sundar can get a chance till Dubey arrives.
Both teams
India (for the first two matches): Shubman Gill (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khalil Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Sai Sudarshan, Jitesh Sharma, Harshit Rana.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Jonathan Campbell, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Keaia, Clive M, Wesley Medhevere, T Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brendan Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Antam Naqvi, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba.
Match time: 4.30 pm.