The IND vs ZIM first T20I will be played in Harare on Saturday, July 6. All the five T20I matches will be played in Hahare starting from 4.30 pm IST.
IND vs ZIM Team Analysis
India
Shubman Gill will assume leadership of India as the BCCI announced the squad of 15 players for the upcoming five-match series. Harhit Rana, Sai Sudharsan, and Jitesh Sharma have been selected to replace Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are currently with the Indian World Cup-winning team in the Caribbean. They will join the squad in Harare for the final three matches after returning to India.
Zimbabwe
Sikandar Raza has been appointed as the captain of the team following Zimbabwe’s exclusion from the recent T20 World Cup. Consequently, the Zimbabwe Cricket Board has opted to drop several experienced players from the squad, including Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, Ainsley Ndlovu, Craig Ervine, and Sean Williams, who were not included in the selection process.They played their last T20I series against Bangladesh in April. Justin Sammons is the new head coach of the side who replaced Dave Houghton, who resigned after Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup.
IND vs ZIM Sixers Key Factors
Pitch Conditions
Harare has hosted a total of 50 T20Is so far. The average score for teams batting first is slightly above 150, with the highest score being 229. Teams chasing have successfully reached 194 on average. The pitch conditions are expected to favor batsmen more than bowlers during the upcoming series. Team India is entering the series with a fresh lineup of players, all of whom are in good physical condition. However, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, originally selected for the squad, has been sidelined due to injury, with Shivam Dube stepping in as his replacement. Fortunately, there are no significant injury issues plaguing the Indian team.
Zimbabwe’s last T20I match was against Bangladesh back in April. Concerns over form led to the exclusion of several senior players from the squad. The current group of players, though, is free from any fitness or injury worries heading into the series.
Tactical Acumen
Shubman Gill has been appointed as the captain of the Indian national cricket team for the first time in his career. His leadership experience includes captaining the Gujarat Titans during the 2024 IPL season, showcasing his capabilities in a leadership role at a domestic level. In contrast, Sikandar Raza, who leads the Zimbabwe T20I team, brings a wealth of experience in guiding the national side, demonstrating his seasoned leadership credentials over time.
IND vs ZIM Score Prediction
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings |
| India | 180-200 | 150-170 |
| Zimbabwe | 160-180 | 150-170 |
Recent Venue Records (Harare Sports Club, Harare)
STATS – T20
Total matches 50
Matches won batting first 29
Matches won bowling first 20
Average 1st Inns scores 152
Average 2nd Inns scores 133
Highest total recorded 229/2 (20 Ov) by AUS vs ZIM
Lowest total recorded 99/10 (19.5 Ov) by PAK vs ZIM
Highest score chased 194/5 (19.2 Ov) by BAN vs ZIM
Lowest score defended 118/9 (20 Ov) by ZIM vs PAK
Who Will Score Most Runs For India: Shubman Gill / Rinku Singh
Who Will Take Most Wickets For India: Ravi Bishnoi / Avesh khan
Who Will Score Most Runs For Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza / Jonathan Campbell
Who Will Take Most Wickets For Zimbabwe: Richard Ngarava / Blessing Musarabani
IND vs ZIM Match Prediction– Who Will Win Today T20I Match 1? India Tour Of Zimbabwe 2024
India has won six out of the eight T20Is and the winning run is expected to continue. Expect Zimbabwe to put in a fighting performance.
Conclusion
The match is poised to be a close one with a young Indian side taking on a slightly experienced Zimbabwe side in their backyard.
