The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member Indian squad for the Zimbabwe Tour. The five-match T20I series will be played from July 6-14 at Harare Sports Club.
Shubman Gill, who led the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, will captain the Indian side for the first time. Although most of the players were expected to be named in the side, a few players like Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Reddy received surprise call-ups based on their IPL 2024 performances.
Gujarat Titans – Shubman Gill (c)
Shubman Gill will look to secure a series victory in his first outing as captain. Gill amassed 426 runs in 12 innings at an average of 38.73 and a strike rate of 147.40, with a top score of 104, in IPL 2024. In his last five T20I outings, the 24-year-old scored 117 runs in five innings, with his last appearance against Afghanistan in January.
Kolkata Knight Riders – Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh, part of the reserves in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, finds a place in this series. Rinku scored 168 runs at an average of 18.67 and a strike rate of 148.67 for champions KKR in the league. He had slammed 474 runs in IPL 2023 at a strike rate of 149.53. Moreover, he holds an impressive average of 89 in T20Is and a strike rate of 176.23, with two fifties. The southpaw will likely don the finisher’s hat in the series.
Rajasthan Royals – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Avesh Khan
The Rajasthan Royals have produced terrific players in the last few seasons. Five players from their ranks mark their presence in the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe tour. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson are part of the T20 World Cup 2024 squad as well but haven’t yet made an appearance.
In IPL 2024, Jaiswal scored 435 runs at an average of 31.07, with a best knock of 104*. Meanwhile, Samson produced his best-ever season, scoring 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.47, with a top score of 86.
Riyan Parag had a breakout IPL season, becoming the Royals’ finest batter with 573 runs in 15 innings at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.22. Jurel scored 195 runs at a strike rate of 138.30, with the best knock of 56*. On the other hand, Avesh Khan was the leading wicket-taker for the team with 19 scalps at an economy of 9.59 in 16 games.
Chennai Super Kings – Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tushar Deshpande
Ruturaj Gaikwad ended up as the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2024 with 583 runs in 14 innings at an average of 53, with four fifties and a hundred. Tushar Deshpande took the most wickets for Chennai Super Kings, claiming 17 wickets at an economy of 8.83.
SunRisers Hyderabad – Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar
Abhishek Sharma stole the show with his heroics in IPL 2024 for the SunRisers Hyderabad. His aggressive intent and run-scoring appetite made him a fan favorite, as he amassed 484 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 204.22.
Meanwhile, Nitish Reddy made it to the Indian side by scoring 303 runs at a strike rate of 142.92, while also taking three wickets. Although Washington Sundar managed to pick only a solitary wicket in two appearances, he finds a place in the side due to his past performances. The bowling all-rounder has 34 T20I wickets at an economy of 7.19.
Delhi Capitals – Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar
Khaleel Ahmed was the joint highest wicket-taker for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, claiming 17 scalps at an economy of 9.58. His ability to swing the ball both ways will be crucial to the Indian team on the Zimbabwe Tour.
Mukesh Kumar proved to be a clutch performer for the Capitals, bowling the tough overs. He picked up 17 wickets at an economy of 10.37, with the best figures of 3/14.
Lucknow Super Giants – Ravi Bishnoi
The only player from Lucknow Super Giants in the squad is Ravi Bishnoi. The wily spinner took 10 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 8.77. Bishnoi rose to the top of the ICC T20I bowling rankings last year after taking nine wickets in a five-match T20I series against Australia.
As India gears up for the Zimbabwe series, fans will be eager to see these promising players showcase their talent on the international stage.
