Is Riyan Parag playing today's 5th India vs Zimbabwe T20I?

India have called back talented middle-order batter Riyan Parag for their fifth and final T20I against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday (July 14). He has come in place of Ruturaj Gaikwad.

The Men in Blue sealed the series with a 10-wicket win in the fourth game on Saturday and this change seems like the one to give Parag some much-deserved game time. The Rajasthan Royals prospect got selected for this series after a bumper IPL 2024 season but was dropped after the first two games.

That seemed a bit unfair on him because he could only score 2 (3) in the first -- his international debut -- and didn't get to bat in the second. He then had to make way for seniors arriving from India's 2024 T20 World Cup winning squad.

This would be a good opportunity for him to bat at his preferred position and score some important runs for his future. His domestic numbers backed by IPL performances have made him a good prospect to watch out for India's T20I future after the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Gaikwad got some decent game time before him too. The Chennai Super Kings skipper got out for 7 in his first chance but scored a brilliant 77* (47) and 49 (28) in the next two.

India's playing 11 with Riyan Parag

India have made another change - dropping the in-forn Khaleel Ahmed to give Mukesh Kumar a go.

India's 11: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande and Mukesh Kumar.

Here's how Zimbabwe shape up: Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c). Johnathan Campbell, Faraz Akram, Clive Madande (wk), Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.

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