3 things to look forward to in the 1st India vs Zimbabwe T20I ft. Shubman Gill's captaincy debut
International cricket is already back following the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, where India beat South Africa in a tightly contested final in Barbados. The Men in Blue will know take on Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series, with the opening game set to commence in Harare on Saturday, July 6.
India have understandably named a second-string squad for the assignment. Shubman Gill will lead the contingent in Africa, with plenty of fresh faces set to be welcomed to the international circuit. Zimbabwe, too, have some storylines to watch out for.
The highs of the 2024 T20 World Cup are yet to fade, but that doesn't mean that this series won't be entertaining. On that note, here are three things to look forward to in the first T20I between India and Zimbabwe.
#3 Shubman Gill will make his international captaincy debut
Shubman Gill led the Gujarat Titans in the 2024 Indian Premier League and impressed most with his tactical acumen and clarity of speech in post-match presentations. The youngster is all set to take the reins of the national team for the first time in his career.
As India look to move on from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, they need a new leader. Hardik Pandya seems to be the obvious candidate, but his captaincy has come under a ton of criticism lately. Gill has an excellent chance to put his name in the hat, and the signs suggest he has what it takes to succeed in the role.
Gill's leadership will be watched closely during the India-Zimbabwe T20I series, not to mention his batting form.
#2 Zimbabwe will be without some of their established stars
India aren't the only team going through a period of transition. Zimbabwe will be without Craig Ervine and Sean Williams, who might not be part of the team's plans. All-rounder Ryan Burl, who has been in middling form lately, will also be absent.
While Zimbabwe do have plenty of talent in their bowling lineup, including Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, and captain Sikandar Raza, their batting is a relative unknown. Wessly Madhevere is back, but the unit is, on the whole, raw and inexperienced.
But with that comes a great deal of opportunity. Madhevere, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, and the rest of the lineup will be chomping at the bit to make an impression on the biggest stage. It's not often that a team like India comes touring, and Zimbabwe will not be short of motivation.
#1 India are expected to hand out a host of caps
As many as five players could be handed their maiden international caps when India lock horns with Zimbabwe in the first T20I. Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Dhruv Jurel, and Harshit Rana are all in contention to feature on Saturday.
Abhishek, who is on the back of an explosive IPL campaign for finalists SunRisers Hyderabad, will be one to watch out for at the top of the order. Parag had a breakthrough campaign with the Rajasthan Royals and is ready to make the step up to the international level.
Jurel impressed one and all during his maiden Test series against England, while Deshpande and Rana had stellar IPL campaigns as well. There's plenty of talent among the uncapped bunch, and their performances will grab the most eyeballs in the opening T20I.