India has announced a youthful and dynamic squad for their upcoming five-match T20I tour of Zimbabwe, with Shubman Gill set to captain the team. The squad includes several fresh faces, highlighting India’s focus on nurturing young talent and providing opportunities to in-form players from domestic circuits and the IPL.
Full Squad:
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Abhishek Sharma
- Rinku Singh
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Nitish Reddy
- Riyan Parag
- Washington Sundar
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Avesh Khan
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Mukesh Kumar
- Tushar Deshpande
Key Highlights:
- New Call-ups:
- Abhishek Sharma: Earns his maiden call-up after an impressive IPL season, where he was the highest six-hitter with 42 sixes in 16 games.
- Riyan Parag: Joins the squad following a breakthrough IPL season with Rajasthan Royals, where he scored 573 runs, ranking third in the run-getters list.
- Nitish Reddy: Selected for his all-round potential, particularly as a backup for Hardik Pandya, despite his bowling being a work in progress.
- Tushar Deshpande: The Mumbai pacer makes the cut after consistent performances in domestic cricket and IPL with Chennai Super Kings.
- Rising Stars:
- Dhruv Jurel: Despite an underwhelming IPL, his Test debut against England showcased his ability to handle high-pressure situations, earning him a spot as a lower-order hitter and backup wicket-keeper.
- Experienced Campaigners:
- Sanju Samson: Expected to be the primary wicket-keeper.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal: Their inclusion adds depth to the top order, though it will be interesting to see how the batting order is adjusted given Gill’s position as an opener.
- Bowling Attack:
- Khaleel Ahmed: Potential comeback after being part of the T20 World Cup travelling reserves; hasn’t played internationally since 2019.
- Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar: Complement the pace attack.
- Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi: Specialist spinners to provide balance to the bowling unit.
The tour begins on July 6 at the Harare Sports Club, with all five matches scheduled to be played at the same venue over the following eight days. This series presents a valuable opportunity for young players to showcase their talent on the international stage.
