India vs Zimbabwe 2024, 1st T20I: Toss result and playing XIs for today's match, umpires list and pitch report
India are taking on Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club in the first T20I of the five-match series on Saturday, July 6. This will be the first assignment for the Men in Blue following their triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup that was held in the West Indies and the United States.
Most of the players who featured in the ICC event have been rested for the Zimbabwe T20Is, while the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja have retired from the format. Shubman Gill has been named captain of the young team that includes the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, and Tushar Deshpande.
India and Zimbabwe have met in eight T20Is so far; seven of them in Harare itself. The Men in Blue have a 6-2 lead in the head-to-head battle. However, several matches have been tightly contested, so India will not expect to have it easy in the five-match series.
Today's IND vs ZIM toss result
India have won the toss and have opted to field first. Shubman Gill said:
“I think it looks like a really good surface. I don't think it will change much batting second. We want to put a target on the board.”
India have three debutants - Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel.
IND vs ZIM - Today's match playing XIs
India: Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar
Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande (w), Wessly Madhevere, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara
Today's IND vs ZIM pitch report
The pitch at the Harare Sports Club looks like a really good one to bat on. A high-scoring clash could be on the cards, with the surface not expected to change much during the 40 overs. According to Tino Mawoyo, there is a slight covering of grass, but that would dry out quickly. 150 is the average score at Harare in the last 10-12 games, but that might not be enough.
Today's IND vs ZIM match players list
India squad: Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Harshit Rana
Zimbabwe squad: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Johnathan Campbell, Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (c), Clive Madande (wk), Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Brandon Mavuta, Faraz Akram, Antum Naqvi, Dion Myers
IND vs ZIM - Today's match umpires
On-field umpires: Forster Mutizwa, Iknow Chabi
TV umpire: Langton Rusere
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft