The Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection has named the 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe series, which will start in the first week of July. Shubman Gill is set to make his debut in the international arena for the first time. As the Men in Blue will kick off their fresh season on July 7th, with their first challenge against Zimbabwe. All the matches will be played in Harare.
Well, the squad includes a few smart surprises, as senior players are expected to get some rest. While the young guns will take charge against ‘the Chevrons’ of Zimbabwe. Since the opportunity is significant for the emerging superstars, let’s take a detailed look at all the new players who are set to light up the stage with their performances.
Players who are going to make their India debut vs Zimbabwe
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | Batter |
| Riyan Parag | Batter |
| Nitish Reddy | All-Rounder |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicket-keeper |
| Tushar Deshpande | Pacer |
Abhishek Sharma
After performing wonders with the bat as an opener for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sharma has received his maiden call-up for India. Sharma was incredible with the bat for the Hyderabad franchise, scoring 484 runs in 16 matches at a hefty strike rate of 204. Since India has been trying numerous opening combinations in the T20I format, Sharma’s inclusion speaks many things. It will be interesting to see how much he can capitalize on this opportunity under the new captain and childhood friend, Shubman Gill.
Riyan Parag
One more name that seems deserving is Riyan Parag. The batter from Assam is known for his giant hits, especially in the middle overs of the game. In the recently concluded IPL, he has shown significant improvement, appearing mature enough to handle crucial moments of the game.
There have been many games that exemplify how well he handled tough situations for the Rajasthan Royals. Since Parag bats at the top of the order, we may see him batting at positions 2 or 3 for India, where he can play the anchor innings and also strike the bowlers when required.
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Dhruv Jurel
Jurel was part of the India vs England Test squad where India won the series by a 4-1 margin. In the 4th Test match, he is still remembered for his 90-run contribution which led India to win the series. But this is going to be the first time he is wearing the blue jersey for India, having scored 439 runs in T20s with a decent strike rate of 137.61.
He could be the game-changer for India, especially in the batting positions of 3 or 4. Just like Parag’s scenario of constructing innings and leading to big scores is required.
Nitish Reddy
One more player from the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise who has received a call-up to the Indian team is Nitesh Reddy, who has recently blossomed as an all-rounder for India. If we look at the Indian T20I lineup over the years, it’s quite visible that India has often fallen short in the all-rounder department. Apart from Hardik Pandya and now Shivam Dube, India doesn’t have the luxury of players who possess all-round attributes.
Since Reddy fulfills both batting and bowling roles, he can be a valuable addition for the Men in Blue. Looking at his numbers for the SRH franchise, he has scored 153 runs as a lower-order batter and also taken 3 wickets with his medium-fast bowling.
Tushar Deshpande
CSK’s reliable fast bowler, Tushar Deshpande, has finally received a call-up to the Indian team. Deshpande, who has taken 42 wickets in 36 matches for CSK, has always been considered a key player for the Chennai franchise.
Since many established Indian bowlers are not traveling with the team, Deshpande’s bowling economy has come under scrutiny. This 29-year-old bowler has a clear-cut chance of making an impact and silencing the critics.
India’s squad for T20Is against Zimbabwe
Ꮪhubman 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.
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