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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the T20I squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, beginning on July 6 at the Harare Sports Club. Young batting sensation Shubman Gill has been named captain.
Fresh talent earns call-up after impressive IPL performances
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)’s Abhishek Sharma has earned his first national team call-up after a standout IPL season where he led in six-hitting with 42 in 16 matches. Another IPL star, Riyan Parag, who had a breakout season with Rajasthan Royals (RR) scoring 573 runs, joins the squad. Both Rohit and Parag’s contributions with the ball also bolstered their selection.
Dhruv Jurel, noted for his significant performances in his Test debut series against England, has been included despite a lukewarm IPL season. His lower-order hitting has secured his spot in the team. All-rounder Nitish Reddy is another new face in the squad. Reddy showcased his batting prowess in the IPL, though his bowling is still maturing.
Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande, yet to make his international debut, has also been selected after strong domestic performances and consistent displays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the cash-rich league.
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Return of experienced players
Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed returns to the squad after being part of the T20 World Cup reserves. Ahmed last played for India in 2019. He is joined by Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar as the pace options, while Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi are the chosen specialist spinners.
Sanju Samson will be the primary wicket-keeper, with Jurel as his backup. Ruturaj Gaikwad has also returned to the squad, providing additional options at the top of the order alongside captain Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
India squad for Zimbabwe series: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande.
