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Following their triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies, the Indian men’s cricket team is set to embark on a tour to Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series commencing on Saturday (July 6) in Harare. However, India will showcase a revamped squad for the Zimbabwe series, featuring several standout performers from IPL 2024 under the leadership of Shubman Gill.
Ahead of the series kick-off, newcomers Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Tushar Deshpande have expressed their eagerness to represent India in a video shared across BCCI’s official social media platforms. This marks their debut at the international level, and they are visibly thrilled at the prospect.
“Slowly sinking in that I will travel with the Indian team. It’s like a dream come true for me,” said Deshpande, who has impressed with his bowling in the last two IPL seasons for CSK.
“The firsts are always special, as we all say, and it’s the same with me because playing for the country is a very special thing,” he added.
Abhishek Sharma said, “Day 1 se jab maine as a professional shuru kiya tha toh ek he mera sapna tha ki mujhe India ke liye khelna hai. Mujhe pata tha ki agar mai mehnat karta rahunga toh mujhe mauka milega lekin ye nahi pata tha Zimbabwe mein milega aur India ke bahar milega.”
“Bachpan mein ek chota ladka Assam se ye soch raha tha, dream kar raha tha, toh abhi vo ho gaya hai finally, khushi toh bahut hai… There will be a special connection for Zimbabwe; whenever I do play my first match, I think that will be a special moment for that ground and for myself, which will be very sacred,” Riyan Parag said.
The entire five-match T20I series between India and Zimbabwe is slated to be held at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. The first match of the series is scheduled for Saturday (July 6), followed by successive matches on July 7, 10, 13, and 14.
India’s squad: Shubman Gill (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Sai Sudharsan (1st and 2nd), Jitesh Sharma (1st and 2nd), Harshit Rana (1st and 2nd), Yashasvi Jaiswal (last 3 T20Is), Sanju Samson (last 3 T20Is), Shivam Dube (last 3 T20Is).
