Shubman Gill to captain new-look India in Zimbabwe T20Is

Shubman Gill was named captain of the new-look Indian team for the five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe next month, the BCCI announced on Monday.

Youngsters Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy and Riyan Parag earned their maiden-up call to the Indian team after their impressive performances in IPL 2024 earlier this year. Parag becomes the first player from Assam to be picked in the Indian team.

Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the only two players from India's T20 World Cup squad to be picked for the tour of Zimbabwe, to be played from July 6 to 14.

Gill was not picked for the T20 World Cup and was named among the travelling reserves along with Rinku Singh, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed.

Rinku Singh, who was unlucky to miss on the T20 World Cup team, also finds a place in the team along with Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, while Dhruv Jurel was named as the second wicketkeeper.

Washington Sundar makes his comeback to the Indian team, having last played in the home series against Afghanistan in January. He along with leggie Ravi Bishnoi are the two specialist spinners.

The squad has four specialist fast bowlers in Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar and Tushar Deshpande.

Sunrisers all-rounder Abhishek set the IPL on fire with his blazing knocks in the Powerplay, smashing 484 runs at a strike rate of 204 with three fifties, including 42 sixes in 16 games.

Parag finally came good for Rajasthan Royals. He formed a vital cog in the Royals' middle order, with 573 runs in 16 matches at an average of 52, with four half-centuries.

Abhishek's team-mate Reddy emerged as a surprise star in IPL 2024, stroking 303 runs at a strike rate of 142 with two fifties, while he also claimed three wickets.

It remains to be seen who will coach the Indian team in Zimbabwe as Rahul Dravid stints end with the ongoing T20 World Cup.

India's squad for Zimbabwe T20s: Ꮪhubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (w/k), Dhruv Jurel (w/k), Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande.

Schedule: India's tour of Zimbabwe
1st T20: July 6, Harare, 4.30pm IST
2nd T20: July 7, Harare, 4.30pm IST
3rd T20: July 10, Harare, 4.30pm IST
4th T20: July 13, Harare, 4.30pm IST
5th T20: July 14, Harare, 4.30pm IST

• T20 World Cup