India Announces Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, scheduled to take place from July 6 to 14 in Harare. The selection committee, led by former pacer Ajit Agarkar, has opted for a blend of experienced players and emerging talents, with Shubman Gill named as captain.
New Faces and Maiden Call-Ups
Several consistent performers from the Indian Premier League (IPL) have been rewarded with their first India call-ups. These include Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel is also part of the squad.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: Seen as a potential fast-bowling all-rounder, Reddy scored 303 runs and took three wickets in the IPL for SunRisers Hyderabad.
- Abhishek Sharma: A standout opener for the SunRisers, Sharma amassed 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.
- Riyan Parag: The breakout star for Rajasthan Royals, Parag scored 573 runs at a strike rate of nearly 150.
- Tushar Deshpande: Consistently effective with the ball for both Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings, Deshpande is recognized for his wicket-taking prowess.
Rest for Senior Players
Only two players from India’s T20 World Cup squad—Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal—have been selected for the Zimbabwe series. Key players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested. Notably, Yuzvendra Chahal, who didn’t get much playtime in the T20 World Cup, has been omitted.
Leadership and Experience
Shubman Gill has been chosen as the captain, a decision that comes ahead of other potential candidates such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, who led India in the Asian Games last year, and Sanju Samson, the consistent captain of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. The squad includes four players who were part of the traveling reserves for the T20 World Cup: Gill, Rinku Singh, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed.
Squad Details
- Captain: Shubman Gill
- Players: 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.
Notable Omissions
- Tilak Varma: Despite a strong IPL season with Mumbai Indians, Varma was not included. He may have another chance when India selects their ODI squad for the Sri Lanka series later this year.
- Harshit Rana: The Delhi pacer, who took 19 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL-winning campaign, missed out.
- Rajat Patidar: Despite a stellar IPL season with RCB, Patidar did not make the cut, possibly due to his challenging maiden Test series against England.
Looking Ahead
Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel have been given opportunities to prove themselves despite inconsistent IPL performances. The selectors have shown faith in their potential, aiming to build a strong, versatile team for the future.
The series against Zimbabwe will be an important platform for these players to showcase their talents and secure their spots in future international fixtures.(Dubai7 realmoneygame)