Even as the Indian cricket team and its coaching staff continue to reel and recover from the disappointments of their recent tour of the UK, the Men in Blue gear up to play another T20I series.
The three-match India vs Zimbabwe T20I series kicks off on July 23, Thursday, in Harare. This series gives a great opportunity for out-of-form, or struggling, or out-of-team players to find their footing and present a case for selection in the first-choice squad for future series.
Firstly, new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer is still seeking his first win as India’s T20I skipper after failing to win any of the six completed T20Is in Ireland and England.
Secondly, all eyes will be on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again. The 15-year-old made his T20I debut in England after replacing Sanju Samson but managed scores of 14, 13, and 15 before being dropped for Samson.
Tilak Varma, the vice-captain, Ishan Kishan, and Ravi Bishnoi are other players who haven’t been in good form in recent times and will eye the Zimbabwe tour as a chance to improve their numbers. Bishnoi had earlier replaced Varun Chakaravarathy in the squad, as the latter is laid low with a hamstring injury that he sustained in England.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Mayank Yadav and finisher Rinku Singh are returned to the squad. They would be hoping for game time and notable performances in Zimbabwe.
Prabhsimran Singh, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, and Harsh Dubey are the four uncapped players in India’s squad for Zimbabwe T20Is.
With Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy both injured, Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge are the pace-bowling all-rounders in the squad, and Harsh Dubey is the spin-bowling all-rounder in the absence of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
Predicting the batting order in the India playing XI for the 1st T20I vs Zimbabwe seems a much simpler task today than the bowling combination.
The top six is expected to comprise Abhishek, Sooryavanshi, Kishan, Iyer, Tilak, and Dube.
India is likely to go with two all-rounders and include Shedge or Harsh Dubey to pair with Dube, forming a dangerous finishing trio with Rinku. But that would leave India requiring eight overs from Dube, Shedge/Harsh, and Abhishek.
The choices for the remaining three spots of the bowlers are anyone’s guess.
Prince Yadav is likely to play, while all three of Ashok, Mayank, and Yash are known for their express pace; Ashok bowled the fastest ball in IPL 2026 at 154.7 kph. Yash earlier starred in Vidarbha’s title-winning season at the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 19 wickets.
Bishnoi took a hammering in England in his only bowling opportunity – 0/60 and plenty of no-balls – so he may not be a starter in the 1st T20I.
IND vs ZIM: India Predicted 11 vs Zimbabwe For 1st T20I
Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma (VC), Shreyas Iyer (C), Shivam Dube, Harsh Dubey/Suryansh Shedge, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rinku Singh, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharmam, Yash Thakur/ Mayank Yadav
Where and how to watch India vs Zimbabwe T20I series?
The India vs Zimbabwe T20I series begins on July 23. Indian fans can watch the series live on Unite8 Sports TV channels. The live streaming of the series will be available on the FanCode app and website.
IND vs ZIM: India’s squad for Zimbabwe T20Is
Shreyas Iyer (C), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rinku Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Ashok Sharma, Prince Yadav, Harsh Dubey, Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav
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