Indian Cricket Team playing 11 for first two T20Is against Zimbabwe - Predicted

The Indian cricket team will tour Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series, starting July 6.

Cricket action is non-stop if you are an Indian player or fan. The Indian cricket fans and players continue to bask in the glory of the historic ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which the Indian cricket team clinched on June 29. But only a week later, the Men In Blue will resume action as they take on Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series, which will kick-start on July 6.

However, the majority of the players who were part of the T20 World Cup squad are rested, and a few retired. Three players – Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube – from the T20 World Cup squad were initially selected for the Zimbabwe tour. However, since their arrival in India was delayed by a couple of days due to a hurricane in Barbados, which forced the airport to be shut down, the BCCI added replacements for these three for the first two T20Is.

With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, the Indian cricket team is set to enter its new era. Since Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant are rested from the Zimbabwe tour, the selectors have named Shubman Gill as the skipper. Gill will be leading a group of young players and the ones who have been on the fringes.

This five-T20I series is the cornerstone of India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.

Indian cricket team predicted XI for T20Is against Zimbabwe:

1. Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma had a breakthrough Indian Premier League (IPL) season this year, where he smashed 484 runs at a strike rate of 204 and formed a deadly opening duo with Travis Head. He’s earned his maiden India call-up and is in line to make his T20I debut for the Indian cricket team.

2. Shubman Gill (C)

Gill wasn’t part of the 15-man T20 World Cup squad, but will lead the Indian cricket team in Zimbabwe. He has had two terrific IPL seasons in the last two years for Gujarat Titans; he was appointed as Gujarat’s skipper this year. This series will test out the leadership qualities in Gill. He is expected to do well as a batsman.

3. Sai Sudharsan

Surrounded by aggressors, Sai Sudharsan could take up the anchor role at number 3, which Kohli performed for more than a decade for India. He averaged 49 in the last two IPL seasons, notching up five fifties and one century.

4. Riyan Parag

Following a bumper domestic season for Assam, Parag had a phenomenal IPL 2024 season for Rajasthan Royals. Batting at number four, he cracked 573 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 149. On the back of this, Parag, who also bowls part-time off-spin, earned his maiden India call-up.

5. Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh watched the T20 World Cup matches from the stands as he was travelling alongside the team as a reserve. He has a mind-blowing record in T20Is – an average of 89 and a strike rate of 176. He was unfortunate to miss out on the T20 World Cup squad, but now he is set to get more chances in the shortest format as India build a team for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

6. Dhruv Jurel (wk)

With Samson unavailable for the first two T20Is, Dhruv Jurel is set to make his T20I debut in Zimbabwe. Jurel had impressed everyone with his temperament during the test series against England earlier this year. Then, in the IPL 2024, batting lower down the order, he scored 195 runs at a strike rate of 138, which included two terrific half-centuries and three quickfire cameos.

7. Washington Sundar

Sundar has had multiple injury issues in recent years. Now with Jadeja retired and Axar rested, he could use this Zimbabwe series to make a case for a cemented spot in India’s T20I XI.

8. Ravi Bishnoi

Bishnoi was another surprise omission from India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad as the selectors went with Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal has not been picked for the Zimbabwe series despite not playing a single game in the T20 World Cup. This indicates that the selectors have decided to move on from Chahal and give Bishnoi a long rope.

9. Avesh Khan

Avesh Khan had an impressive IPL 2024 season where he picked up 19 wickets and consistently clocked over 140 KPH on the speed gun. He was a travelling reserve with the T20 World Cup squad.

10. Khaleel Ahmed

Khaleel snapped 17 wickets in the IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals (DC). The left-arm seamer produced prodigious swing movement with the new ball and used his slower ball variations well in the death overs. He would look to continue the same form when he makes comeback to the Indian Cricket Team.

11. Mukesh Kumar

Mukesh has gradually put himself into contention for India’s teams in white-ball cricket after impressive showings in red-ball cricket. Mukesh returned with 17 wickets in the IPL this year, where he showcased his accuracy and control over his lines and lengths.

India’s squad for 1st & 2nd T20Is against Zimbabwe: 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

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