India vs Zimbabwe: Top 5 Indian Players To Watch Out For In The T20I Series

After clinching the T20 World Cup 2024, a much younger India squad, led by skipper Shubman Gill, will take on Zimbabwe in the upcoming five-match T20I series from July 6 to July 14, 2024. With the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, youngsters have a massive opportunity to seal their spot in the shortest format. Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tushar Deshpande, Avesh Khan and others who were top-class in the IPL 2024 season will finally get a chance to represent India on the International stage. Meanwhile, the dashing opener Shubman Gill will look to make a statement as the Indian captain and hope to put on a solid show. In this blog, we take a look at the top 5 Indian players to watch out for in the India vs Zimbabwe T20 Internationals.

India vs Zimbabwe: Top 5 Indian players to watch out for in the T20I series

The Indian team has arrived in Zimbabwe for the upcoming series. Shubman Gill will captain the young India squad in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The first game is scheduled to take place on July 6. All five T20Is will be played at the iconic Harare Sports Club. A number of young players have made it to the team for this tour. No member of the Indian side that won the T20 World Cup 2024 will be on the team for the first three games. Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will join the side later in the series. But with another exciting series coming up, fans will be excited. Here's OneTurf News with the top 5 Indian players to watch out for in the India vs Zimbabwe T20 International series.

1. Shubman Gill - Matches 14, Runs 335, Average 25.76, Strike-rate 147.57, Highest Score 126*

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's retirement from the T20I format soon after India's victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 leaves a massive opportunity at the top. After winning the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from the T20I format after years of service to the Indian team. Rohit ends his T20I career as the highest run-scorer with 4231 runs, followed by Kohli with 4188 runs. One such batter who can come into the top order to replace this iconic duo is Shubman Gill.

The right-handed batter has been a regular in the Indian white-ball team since 2022 and was Rohit's opening partner in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Though the batter was not selected for India's squad in the T20 World Cup 2024, he will lead the team on their upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. In the five T20Is against the Zimbabwe national cricket team, he can showcase his skills as the skipper and also with the bat to grab the vacant top-order spot.

2. Abhishek Sharma - Debutant

Team India has entered a transitional phase in the shortest format after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. The young stars are all set to display their talent on the international stage with the upcoming Zimbabwe series. Abhishek Sharma, who set the cricketing world on fire with his fearless batting approach, has earned his maiden international call-up.

The young Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener scored 484 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 204.22 and played a crucial role in SRH's journey to the IPL 2024 final. He presented a compelling case for a last-minute inclusion in the India T20 World Cup squad. Still, the selectors opted for experienced players, leaving Abhishek waiting for his maiden call-up to the Indian team.

3. Riyan Parag - Debutant

Riyan Parag had an exceptional IPL 2024, and he was the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament. He scored 573 runs in 14 innings at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21. Riyan played maturely and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. With India opting for a limited number of middle-order batters in the squad, Parag will likely make the Predicted India Playing XI.

Let's not forget that he is also a decent spinner. Riyan Parag was at the Rajasthan Royals Academy in Talegaon, outside of Nagpur, when he received news of his first India call-up for five T20Is in Zimbabwe in July. It was a significant achievement for the former Under-19 World Cup winner (2018) and the IPL's youngest player to score a half-century (2019).

4. Washington Sundar

One important player to watch will be Washington Sundar. Although India fielded three left-arm spinners against South Africa in the final, that may not be true with Jadeja's retirement. Axar Patel has moved up the pecking order, as has Kuldeep Yadav. Consequently, the focus shifts to Washington, among other spin-bowling all-rounders. After Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar is the best off-spinner in the country right now. His ability to bat at any position means that, if properly guided, he has the potential to serve India for a long time.

5. Ravi Bishnoi

Ravi Bishnoi is expected to be India's primary spinner in the India vs Zimbabwe T20 International series. His challenging variations could pose a threat to the Zimbabwe national cricket team. Bishnoi will have good support from the wicket in Harare, enabling him to take a couple of wickets during his spell. This makes him a strong choice for making the India Playing XI. Bishnoi will be the bowler to watch out for in the upcoming five-match T20I series.