Why is Yashasvi Jaiswal not playing today's IND vs ZIM 1st T20I?

Yashasvi Jaiswal is now a T20 World Cup champion. However, because of that, he'll miss an important opportunity to fix his place in India's new-gen 11 which will take on Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series, starting in Harare on Saturday, July 6.

He was originally part of the squad and was supposed to travel to Zimbabwe soon after the T20 World Cup. However, first, hurricane Beryl derailed India's departure from the West Indies. Then, functions were arranged for the winning squad, including a parade and a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi until Friday, July 5.

So, Jaiswal was pulled out of the traveling party and was seen participating in all events. The left-handed batter didn't get a game at the 2024 World Cup as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli took up that job.

Jaiswal, thus, was considered a sure-shot starter against Zimbabwe but now he'll get a bit of time off.

Who has replaced Yashasvi Jaiswal in India's squad?

India brought in Sai Sudharsan for Jaiswal in the squad. The right-handed batter has played three ODIs for India, scoring 127 runs at an average of 63.50.

He was in pretty good form in IPL 2024 for Gujarat Titans, scoring 527 runs in 12 matches at an average of 47.91 with a strike rate of 141.29. In his last league game of the season, he scored a 51-ball 103 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad.

However, Sudharsan will likely not start against Zimbabwe in the first T20I. Captain Shubman Gill on Friday announced that he'll open the innings alongside SunRisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma, who had a breakout IPL 2024.

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"Abhishek Sharma will open with me and Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at No.3," Gill, told reporters.

Jaiswal is still India's preferred opening option in Tests. Now, he'll contest with Abhishek, Gill, Gaikwad, and Sudharsan for the top three spots in this new-look Indian side after Rohit and Kohli's T20I retirement.

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