India is set to to play a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe slated to begin July 6. The World Cup-winning team is given a break from the series, with only Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson set to join the squad from the third match of the series. Shubman Gill will be leading the young brigade of India in Harare which also features exciting and quality talents like Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh among many others.
India the new T20 World Cup champions were given a rousing welcome on their return home but even as the country celebrates their history-makers, one eye turns towards the future.
ZIM vs IND Team look ups
Shubman Gill will be leading the young brigade of India in Harare which also features exciting and quality talents like Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh among many others. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson set to join the squad from the third match of the series.
For Zimbabwe, it’s another fantastic opportunity to cause an upset. Sikandar Raza will be leading the team while the focus will be on their terrific bowling unit that features Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava.
ZIM vs IND Head to Head
| Matches | 08 |
| Won by Zimbabwe | 02 |
| Won by India | 06 |
| Tied | 00 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture |
June 12, 2010
|
| Most-recent Fixture |
November 06, 2022
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ZIM vs IND Pitch and Playing conditions
This will be Harare’s first T20I of the year. First-innings totals in the recent past have been a bit middling, with only five of the last 12, going past 150. In those last 12 matches, spinners (69 wickets at 19.71 and economy rate of 6.6) have done better than the fast bowlers (80 wickets at 25.92 and an economy rate of 7.82). There is no threat of rain with temperatures in the mid-20C.
Harare Sports Club supports the batters. A high-scoring game is expected and bowling first will be ideal. Anything over 180 runs will be a good total on the surface.
ZIM vs IND Big picture – Opportunities galore
The new T20 World Cup champions were given a rousing welcome on their return home but even as the country celebrates their history-makers, one eye turns towards the future. Fifteen of India’s promising colts – captained by Shubman Gill – are in Zimbabwe now laying the groundwork for the time that they too may one day experience: the high of an open-top bus parade with fans as far as the eye can see serenading them.
2024 has been a mixed bag for Shubman Gill. Following a stellar IPL 2023 for Gujarat Titans, he was primed to be India’s opener in the T20 World Cup that just concluded. However, he wasn’t picked in the 15 after a lukewarm 2024 season. But he also had his first taste of captaincy at the higher level after leading Titans this season. That has now translated to the senior level after he was named captain for this series. While India are outright favourites despite not going in there with their first-choice squad, a good series with the bat and as a skipper will enhance Gill’s credentials going forward.
On expected lines, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma confirmed that they won’t be playing T20Is going ahead. Ravindra Jadeja joined the duo in announcing his retirement from the format. And now, the primary focus will be on identifying the players to replace them in the XI. Yashaswi Jaiswal will be a primary contender to become one of the openers but he won’t be available at least for the first two games.
Jaiswal, alongside Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube were part of the World Cup winning squad and hence will join the team later. That gives Ruturaj Gaikwad and skipper Gill to put their names in the ring. Apart from these three, there will be opportunities for the dashing young Abhishek Sharma as well after that stellar IPL. If he continues that form, he will be jumping in front of that queue.
While Axar Patel will be looked at as a direct replacement for Jadeja, with the next T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka, they would want another spinner who can contribute with the bat. Washington Sundar has endured a frustrating year but his fortunes could change finally.
There are spots up for grabs. Two of them, in particular, which Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad will be trying to make their own. Rinku Singh was there in Barbados but only as reserve. He’ll want to fix that. Riyan Parag is starting to make good on his promise. Washington Sundar is 24 and injury-free with India potentially needing a new spin-bowling allrounder in their first-choice XI.
With India scheduled to tour Australia later this year for a blockbuster Test series, the chances of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami featuring in T20Is is less. As a result, the likes of Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar will be looking to make an impression to push for a spot in the first choice white-ball squads. Tushar Deshpande and Harshit Rana are also in the mix but it will be interesting to see if they get an opportunity straightaway.
Zimbabwe will see opportunity too, not least in upsetting the newly-minted champions after being unable to make the World Cup. Hosting an India series brings an influx of money and no shortage of eyeballs, some of whom might be on the lookout for skills that can translate to success in the various franchise tournaments happening around the world. These days, a cricket match is not just a chance to bring glory to the team.
They impressed in the 2022 T20 World Cup but Zimbabwe, quite shockingly, lost out on an opportunity to play the 2024 edition. They would have been absolutely gutted watching Uganda take up their place in the tournament and now the immediate focus will be on ensuring there isn’t a repeat in 2026.
That journey towards redemption begins here, at home, against the most famous team in the world. Impressive performances will be noticed and it will definitely boost their confidence as well. The likes of Sean Williams and Craig Ervine haven’t been considered which highlights the direction Zimbabwe want to take as they look into the future.
ZIM vs IND In the spotlight – Shubman Gill and Sikandar Raza
Shubman Gill is in the middle of a bit of a blip. His first real brush with captaincy, through April and May, didn’t go as planned with Gujarat Titans finishing eighth out of ten teams in IPL 2024. His time with India at the T20 World Cup in June was very brief but now in July he finds himself with the power to do what he likes, at least for the course of these five matches. Will he bat like India want their players to, with aggression from the first ball, or will he do something different
Zimbabwe tripped up, badly, in the Africa T20 World Cup qualifiers in November 2023. Sikandar Raza was captain. They hosted Ireland in December, but after an excellent all-round contribution in a one-wicket victory, he was suspended from the rest of the series due to an on-field altercation.
Then Raza lost his form, with four single-digit scores in six T20I innings, but his last one was a match-winning half-century against Bangladesh. He’s also produced good showings for Northamptonshire in the Vitality Blast (206 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 153). Raza’s back on the up and he wants his team to be as well.
ZIM vs IND Stats and trivia
- India have faced Zimbabwe in only eight T20Is over the course of 14 years. They’ve won six and lost two.
- Raza needs 53 more to become the first Zimbabwean to score 2000 runs in T20Is.
ZIM vs IND Predicted Playing XIs
Zimbabwe:
Brian Bennett, Tadiwanshe Marumani, Sikandar Raza (c), Jonathan Campbell, Clive Madande (wk.), Innocent Kaia, Wesley Madhevere, Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
India:
Shubhman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk.), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi
ZIM vs IND Fantasy Playing XI : Shubhman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk.), Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza , Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
ZIM vs IND Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Shubman Gill
India opener Shubman Gill would be fired up to score runs in the five-match series. He was dropped from the T20 World Cup squad, which should fuel him to find success. The skipper would hope to seal his spot in the T20I setup, especially with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma also being present.
Probable Best Bowler: Khaleel Ahmed
Despite having a spectacular season in IPL 2024, Khaleel Ahmed failed to make it to India’s squad for the T20 World Cup. He was part of the travelling reserves and just like Gill, he will be fired to prove a point and seal his place by making an impact in the upcoming fixture.
ZIM vs IND Match Prediction
Scenario 1
Zimbabwe win the toss and opt to bowl first
PP Score: 45-55
Score: 185-205
India win the match
Scenario 2
India win the toss and opt to bowl first
PP score: 30-40
Score: 135-155
India win the match