Shubman Gill takes captaincy as India announce T20I squad for Zimbabwe tour

India has revealed a 15-player squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, set to begin on July 6. Following the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, the team sees several fresh faces and a new captain leading the charge.

Shubman Gill, who was part of the reserves during the T20 World Cup, will be captaining the team for this series. He is joined by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, the only two players from the main World Cup squad who have been included.

Several reserves from the World Cup squad, including Gill, Rinku Singh, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed, have also been named in the squad for this series. Their experience will be vital in guiding the new players.

The squad features maiden call-ups for some exciting new talents who impressed in the IPL 2024 season. Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, and Tushar Deshpande have earned their spots due to their standout performances.

For spin options, India has chosen Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar, with part-time support from Riyan Parag and Abhishek Sharma. The pace attack will be led by Avesh Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Kumar, and Khaleel Ahmed, providing a solid bowling lineup.

Nitish Reddy, who had a great season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, has been included as a pace-bowling all-rounder. His performances caught the attention of the selectors, earning him a spot in the squad.

Sanju Samson, who has not played a game in the T20 World Cup, will be competing with Dhruv Jurel for a place in the starting lineup. The series will provide both players with a chance to showcase their skills and make a mark.

India’s squad for T20I series against Zimbabwe: Ꮪhubman Gill (c), 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.