🏏Series: India tour of Zimbabwe, 2024-Zimbabwe vs India, 1st T20I🏏

🏏Series: India tour of Zimbabwe, 2024-Zimbabwe vs India, 1st T20I 🏏

Less than 48 hours after thbe rapturous reception the Indian team received in Mumbai following the T20 World Cup win, a completely different unit will be lining up in Harare.

Recent history suggests that no one should bat an eyelid looking at the schedule. The Indian team over the years have just gotten used to playing non-stop.

While the interest levels from the viewing public might not be at an all time high, this series carries a lot of significance for both sets of players.

Shubman Gill - The leader

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.

Who will replace the trio?

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. Yashasvi 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.

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.

The pacers next in line?

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's journey towards redemption

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 wants to take as they look into the future.

Squads:

India Squad: Shubman Gill(c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel(w), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Harshit Rana

Zimbabwe Squad: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Sikandar Raza(c), Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande(w), Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Brandon Mavuta, Dion Myers, Faraz Akram, Antum Naqvi

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.

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.

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.

Form guide

Zimbabwe WLLLL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)

India WWWWW

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?

Sikandar Raza will look to find form•AFP/Getty Images

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.

Team news - Count the debuts

This India squad is very much a work in progress so the XIs that come out of it might not have all their bases covered. The batting, for example, might only go down as far as No. 7 which certainly does not encourage the hit-every-ball-out-of-the-park philosophy they are trying to perfect. Also, the players themselves haven't proven themselves at this level. Then again, they haven't been exposed to it all that often either. Look out for debuts. There could be four or five. Gill confirmed Abhishek Sharma will open the batting alongside him.

Zimbabwe are searching for new talent themselves. Some of their better-known players like Sean Williams and Craig Ervine weren't considered for this series and Ryan Burl has been dropped. Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta, though, are back in contention after serving out four-month suspensions for drug use.

Pitch and conditions - Runs at a premium

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.

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.

Even as the euphoria of T20 World Cup triumph sweeps through the length and breadth of India, Shubman Gill, who was a reserve in that squad, will hit a refresh button along with a bunch of IPL performers.

All the fresh faces are expected to make their international debut during the series scheduled to be played entirely in the Zimbabwean capital.

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.

Today's Match Prediction: India to win the match

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