The men’s selection committee has named opener Sai Sudharsan, wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma and pacer Harshit Rana as replacements for Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe. This is a maiden call-up for Delhi pacer Harshit Rana, who has had an excellent IPL season with Kolkata Knight Riders.
The trio of Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who were originally slated to join the Zimbabwe-bound squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series starting July 6, will travel to India first with the rest of the ICC T20 World Cup-winning Indian squad before departing for Harare.
The series also handed a maiden senior national call-up for young IPL stars Abhishek Sharma, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag and Tushar Deshpande. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy who was initially named in the squad was withdrawn due to an injury, with the BCCI naming Dube as his replacement.
With Rahul Dravid relinquishing as head coach, VVS Laxman will travel with the team to Zimbabwe as the interim replacement. All matches of the series will be played at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.
India’s squad for 1st & 2nd T20I against Zimbabwe: Shubman Gill (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Harshit Rana
Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Antum Naqvi, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba.
Schedule of India vs Zimbabwe T20Is
1st T20I – Saturday, July 6
2nd T20I – Sunday, July 7
3rd T20I – Wednesday, July 10
4th T20I – Saturday, July 13
5th T20I – Sunday, July 14
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