The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a dynamic and youthful squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, with Shubman Gill named as the captain. The squad includes several fresh faces alongside experienced campaigners, highlighting a blend of youth and experience aimed at testing new talent on the international stage.
New Faces in the Squad
India has called up four new players for this series: Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Nitish Reddy, and Tushar Deshpande. These players have been rewarded for their outstanding performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic cricket. Abhishek Sharma, who had an impressive IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, finished as the highest six-hitter with 42 sixes in 16 games. Riyan Parag also makes his debut after a breakthrough season with Rajasthan Royals, where he amassed 573 runs, ranking third in the run-getters list.
Nitish Reddy, known for his all-round potential, is seen as a potential backup for Hardik Pandya. While his batting has been impressive, his bowling remains a work in progress. Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande, who has shown consistency in domestic cricket and back-to-back seasons with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, is another uncapped player making the squad.
Established Players and Comebacks
The squad also includes several players who have been regular fixtures in the Indian team over the past few years. Sanju Samson is expected to be the primary wicket-keeper, with Dhruv Jurel as a backup. Jurel, despite an underwhelming IPL season, has shown promise with high-pressure knocks in his nascent Test career.
Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to the squad, joining the mix of openers including Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, potentially creating a batting order dilemma. Khaleel Ahmed is poised for a comeback after last playing for India in 2019, bolstering the pace attack alongside Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar. Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi are the specialist spinners rounding out the squad.
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.
The series kicks off on July 6 at the Harare Sports Club, with all five matches scheduled to be played at this venue over eight days. This tour presents an exciting opportunity for India’s young talents to shine on the international stage.
Inputs by Agencies
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