New Delhi, July 2: After retirement of the three veterans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja from the shortest format of cricket, following Team India's triumph in the recent T20 World Cup 2024, a young and second string Indian team left for Zimbabwe on Tuesday for a five-match T20I series.
Led by opener Shubman Gill, the Indian team also missed quite a number of regular senior players, who have been rested after the T20 World Cup campaign in the USA and West Indies.
The five match T20I series will start from July six. The Indian team is joined by VVS Laxman as the acting Head Coach, after Rahul Dravid ended his tenure with the team following World Cup victory.
"Jet set Zimbabwe," read the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) caption as the board shared a series of pictures of the players and coach Laxman, who boarded the flight.
The team includes IPL 2024 sensations Abhishek Sharma, Tushar Deshpande and Nitish Reddy, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.
Few players who were with Team India during the T20 World Cup campaign recently, also have been included in the T20Is in Zimbabwe. Those players are - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube. Among them only Dube played matches in the World Cup, while Samson and Jaiswal, though were in the squad did not play a single match. Rinku, Khaleel, Shubman, Avesh were travelling reserves
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe after failing to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024, are on the verge of rebuilding their team under new head coach Justin Sammons. They too have picked a young squad, who would be led seasoned batsman Sikandar Raza.
India Team:
Ꮪhubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande.
Zimbabwe Team:
Sikandar Raza (Captain), Akram Faraz, Bennett Brian, Campbell Johnathan, Chatara Tendai, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Mavuta Brandon, Muzarabani Blessing, Myers Dion, Naqvi Antum, Ngarava Richard, Shumba Milton.
