Indian Squad for Zimbabwe Tour Announced
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming Zimbabwe Tour. The five-match T20I series will be held from July 6-14 at the Harare Sports Club.
Shubman Gill to Lead
Shubman Gill, who captained the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2024, will lead the Indian side for the first time. While most players were expected selections, a few surprises include Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Reddy, who impressed in IPL 2024.
Gujarat Titans – Shubman Gill (c)
Gill, a top-order batter, will aim for a series victory in his debut as captain. In IPL 2024, Gill scored 426 runs in 12 innings with an average of 38.73 and a strike rate of 147.40, including a top score of 104. In his last five T20I matches, Gill scored 117 runs in five innings, with his last game against Afghanistan in January.
Kolkata Knight Riders – Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh, part of the Indian T20 World Cup 2024 reserves, earned his spot with 168 runs at an average of 18.67 and a strike rate of 148.67 for KKR. Rinku was outstanding in IPL 2023 with 474 runs at a strike rate of 149.53 and continues his form in T20Is with an average of 89 and a strike rate of 176.23.
Rajasthan Royals – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Avesh Khan
Five players from the Rajasthan Royals have been named, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson also part of the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Jaiswal scored 435 runs in IPL 2024, while Samson had his best season with 531 runs. Riyan Parag had a breakout IPL season with 573 runs. Dhruv Jurel scored 195 runs, and Avesh Khan was the leading wicket-taker for the team with 19 wickets.
Chennai Super Kings – Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tushar Deshpande
Ruturaj Gaikwad finished as the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2024 with 583 runs. Tushar Deshpande was the leading wicket-taker for CSK with 17 wickets.
SunRisers Hyderabad – Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar
Abhishek Sharma had a phenomenal IPL 2024 with 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.22. Nitish Reddy made the Indian side with 303 runs and three wickets. Washington Sundar, despite limited appearances, has a significant impact with 34 T20I wickets.
Delhi Capitals – Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar
Khaleel Ahmed was the joint highest wicket-taker for Delhi Capitals with 17 scalps. Mukesh Kumar, another key bowler, also claimed 17 wickets.
Lucknow Super Giants – Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi is the only player from Lucknow Super Giants in the squad, with 10 wickets in 14 games in IPL 2024. He topped the ICC T20I bowling rankings last year.
This squad showcases a mix of seasoned players and emerging talents, promising an exciting series against Zimbabwe.(live score cricket ipl)