BCCI Announces Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced the 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe tour, which includes five T20 Internationals beginning on July 6. Notably, major names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been dropped from the squad.
Shubman Gill to Lead the Team
Indian opener Shubman Gill has been named as the captain for the tour. He will be leading a squad that features a mix of experienced players and newcomers.
New Faces in the Squad
Notably, Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, and Tushar Deshpande have received their maiden call-ups for the national side. Their impressive performances in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 earned them a spot in the squad.
Rest for Senior Players
Senior players such as Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav, who are currently participating in the ongoing World Cup, have been rested for the series against Zimbabwe.
Full Squad Announcement
Here is the full squad for the Zimbabwe T20I series:
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- 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
IPL Stars in Focus
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma finished as the 10th-highest run-scorer in the IPL 2024, amassing 484 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.26 and an impressive strike rate of 204.31. He notched three half-centuries, with a highest score of 75*, and smashed 42 sixes throughout the season. Forming a formidable opening partnership for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with Australian opener Travis Head, their aggressive style was pivotal in SRH’s journey to the final, where they were ultimately defeated by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Additionally, Abhishek is a valuable spin bowler.
Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag, another versatile all-rounder, excelled both with the bat and ball. Promoted to number four by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) management after years of underperformance lower in the order, he delivered by scoring 573 runs in 16 matches at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate exceeding 149, including four half-centuries. His highest score was 84*. Riyan’s consistent performances were instrumental in RR’s qualification for the playoffs.(cricket betting app)