BCCI Plans Zimbabwe Tour with Shubman Gill as Captain, Resting Key Players for T20 World Cup

While everyone is focused on the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is busy planning for the Indian team’s tour of Zimbabwe, which includes 5 T20 matches starting on July 6.

Key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will be rested for this series, giving a chance for new talents to shine. Even experienced players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have decided not to join the Zimbabwe tour.

According to the Indian Express, amidst the absence of senior players, Shubman Gill is likely to be appointed as the captain for the Zimbabwe series.

The squad is expected to feature several Indian Premier League (IPL) stars, such as Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tushar Deshpande, and Harshit Rana. Additionally, players like Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rinku Singh, who are currently on tour in the USA and West Indies for the T20 World Cup, will also be included in the Zimbabwe-bound squad.

Shubman Gill, who was part of the Indian team’s reserve contingent for the USA tour, was sent back along with pacer Avesh Khan, indicating a preparatory shift towards the Zimbabwe series.

Regarding coaching arrangements, while the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as India’s new head coach remains pending, it’s anticipated that VVS Laxman, head of the National Cricket Academy, will accompany the team to Zimbabwe, supported by additional coaching staff. Gambhir is expected to join the team for their subsequent tour of Sri Lanka starting on July 27, marking a transitional phase in India’s coaching setup.

The probable squad for India’s Zimbabwe T20I series includes Shubman Gill as captain, alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper, and a mix of promising young talents and experienced IPL performers. Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, and other bowlers will likely play crucial roles in shaping India’s strategy for the series.

While the T20 World Cup commands global attention, India’s strategic planning for the Zimbabwe tour underscores a balancing act between resting key players, grooming young talent, and addressing coaching transitions, setting the stage for a pivotal series ahead of their Sri Lanka tour.