Is Rinku Singh playing today's IND vs ZIM 1st T20I?

Rinku Singh makes a much-awaited return to India's playing XI in the Men in Blue's first T20I against Zimbabwe on Saturday, July 6, in Harare. The two sides will play five T20Is, in a series that comes just a few days after India's win at the 2024 men's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

Rinku was part of the reserves in the World Cup-winning squad. His non-selection in the main squad in the first place came as a shock to many fans, considering he was one of the best lower-order batters in the world before IPL 2024.

A tough season in the league, where he didn't get a lot of chances to bat because Kolkata Knight Riders' title-winning team didn't need it, tanked his chances and allowed in-form all-rounder Shivam Dube to go through.

Now, Dube, alongside the other members of India's squad, has been given a break from this series. Rinku and Khaleel Ahmed were last reported to have left Barbados, which hosted the T20 World Cup final, for Harare on a commercial flight.

India's playing 11 after Rinku Singh's return

Rinku is one of the senior-most members of the side, which is led by Shubman Gill and consists of many young players. He's likely to continue the finishing role here, coming after a range of technically solid top-order batters.

India's playing 11 for first T20I: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar

As India kick off a new era without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul Dravid at the helm, the KKR man will certainly get more chances to emerge as part of the core un-droppable group.

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