India's predicted playing XI for the 1st T20I vs Zimbabwe
Team India are set to embark on their first international assignment since the 2024 T20 World Cup, which concluded a week ago in Barbados. A second-string Indian side will face off against Zimbabwe in the first T20I of the five-match series on Saturday, July 6, in Harare.
Shubman Gill will lead the Men in Blue against Zimbabwe. The squad doesn't boast much international experience, a trend that became even more prominent after Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube, and Sanju Samson were pulled from the first two T20Is.
India’s squad for 1st & 2nd T20Is against Zimbabwe: Shubman Gill (c), 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.
What will their side look like? Here is India's predicted playing XI for the first T20I against Zimbabwe.
Openers: Shubman Gill (c) and Abhishek Sharma
Captain Gill has announced that Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at No. 3 to start the series, meaning that he and Abhishek Sharma are all set to open the batting. The Punjab duo know each other well, and their performances will be watched closely. Abhishek is also expected to roll his arm over.
Sai Sudharsan, a late addition to the squad, might not crack at the XI at the first time of asking.
Middle order: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar
Gaikwad, as one of the senior members of the squad, will be keen on contributing heavily with the bat. Having batted at No. 3 in the IPL, he won't be too out of place in the position.
Riyan Parag is all set to make a long-awaited international debut. The youngster excelled at No. 4 in IPL 2024 and could reprise the role for the national team.
Rinku Singh has rarely batted as high as No. 5 for India, but it's a position he adopts regularly in domestic cricket. After missing out on the T20 World Cup squad, he will have a point to prove.
Dhruv Jurel was in India's squad before Jitesh Sharma and is thus likely to be preferred as the wicket-keeper. He could be partnered by Washington Sundar in the lower order, with the side being short of all-rounders.
Lower order: Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan
While a Harshit Rana debut would be exciting to watch, India are likely to go in with the fast bowlers they initially named in the squad. Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan, who were part of the T20 World Cup reserves, will likely lead the pace attack.
Tushar Deshpande could be picked ahead of Mukesh Kumar following an impressive IPL campaign with the Chennai Super Kings, although the Indian team management has shown a baffling amount of trust in the latter.
Ravi Bishnoi, as the only specialist spinner in the squad, is virtually guaranteed to feature.