3 changes India should make for 3rd T20I vs Zimbabwe ft. Sanju Samson
India beat Zimbabwe by 100 runs in the second T20I of the five-match series being played between the two teams at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe on Sunday, July 7. With the hosts having won the first game, the series is now tied at 1-1. Three games are yet to be played in this series, which means that we are in for an exciting ride.
The two teams lock horns with each other again on Wednesday, July 10, at the same venue. Both sides will be keen on breaking the stalemate with a statement win here.
In this listicle, we take a look at three changes that India should make for the 3rd T20I.
#1 Sanju Samson for Dhruv Jurel
With wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson coming into the squad after some well-deserved rest post the T20 World Cup, Dhruv Jurel must make way for him.
While the UP wicketkeeper-batter did not get to bat in the second match, Jurel got out for a low score of six in the first.
However, with senior wicketkeeper Samson back in the reckoning, Jurel will have to go back to the bench, which may seem to be a tad unfair to him.
Samson, who did not get any game time at the World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean, will be keen on notching up a few fifty-plus scores in this series and providing timely reminders to the selectors about his indispensability.
#2 Yashasvi Jaiswal for Sai Sudharsan
Yashasvi Jaiswal, along with Samson, is coming into the Indian squad for the last three matches of this series after getting a bit of break post the victorious run in the T20 World Cup.
Just like Samson, he did not get any game time at all in the aforementioned tournament, and will come into the XI for this game at the expense of Sai Sudharsan.
The latter has not done much wrong in this series, but he will merely be given a rest for Jaiswal to come in - he will also be sent back home; he was part of the series for the first two matches only.
Jaiswal will walk into bat at number three after the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad are done dominating proceedings.
#3 Tushar Deshpande for Mukesh Kumar
Mumbai fast bowler Tushar Deshpande, who has been picked in the Indian squad for the first time in his career for this series, can be the third change that the Men in Blue must make on Wednesday.
Mukesh, who has already played Test cricket for India, picked up three wickets in the second T2OI in Harare, but will have to be sent out so that his body can get some well-deserved rest.
Deshpande will be expected to be given his first international cap in this game, and he will hope to make the best use of it.
Along with the good pace that he generates on a regular basis, Deshpande can also get the ball to move around, as well as seam after pitching it on the surface. It will be exciting to see how he fares in this match.