The series offers new and familiar faces a chance to establish themselves in the men's national T20I team. Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Saba Karim has worn many hats - as a national selector, scout, broadcaster and BCCI's general manager of cricket operations.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, facilitated by Sony Sports Network, Karim discusses the potential for India to use the tour of Zimbabwe as a base to form a team for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
He also addresses the challenges that Shubman Gill may encounter in captaining India for the first time in international cricket and the make-up of the various departments of the series. Excerpts
. After the T20 World Cup triumph, how do you see this series against Zimbabwe from an Indian perspective to drive the team's evolution for future big events?
A. I think this is absolutely the right time to start the transition period in the Indian T20 side. There are so many youngsters in the frame now who will be part of this series and it will be a great opportunity for the selectors to take a look at them. So far, if you look at the national selectors, you can see a pattern.
They have a vision and hope to invest in some of these cricketers, who they still believe are capable of making a mark in the T20 format. That is why they have been given more opportunities through this Zimbabwe series. There are some players who are newcomers to this format for the national team. So, it is a very good combination of some experienced T20 international cricketers along with some so-called domestic and IPL performers. So I think this is a pretty balanced setup.
Q. As someone who has been part of the selection committee before, can you talk about the selectors' thought process in identifying players for the future and nurturing them through tours like the upcoming Zimbabwe series?
A. Look, the role of the selector is to find the right type of combination. So once you have determined the space, it will be easy to fill that type of space with the available players. For example, for the opening position, you may have three or four openers in mind and want to try them all in different conditions against different types of opponents. That gives you a clear idea of who may fit the bill when it comes to games and more important events like the World Cup. I think that is the type of vision that the selectors should have. I'm sure Ajit and the company are looking into it. That's why, if you look closely, there are several starters in this lineup.
For example, you have Yashasvi Jaiswal, who joins the team later, and then you have Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. So there are so many contenders for opening and first-level jobs, for which the kind of planning the selectors will have to do is the key.
Similarly, for pace bowlers, there are many contenders in this Indian line-up such as Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed. So I think that's what the selectors are trying to do now: they want to test all these younger generation cricketers that they feel that in the future they can progress and do well for the national team.Q. This is the first time that Shubman Gill will lead the Indian team for the first time in international cricket. What are the challenges you foresee for him on the leadership front in Zimbabwe?
A. For a couple of seasons, Shubman Gill has always been considered an all-format player. It was quite unfortunate that Shubman Gill missed the recent T20 World Cup, although he was part of the traveling team as a reserve. All this happened because Rohit and Virat decided to open, with Yashasvi Jaiswal being a left-handed opener.
Even before that, whenever Jaiswal was given a chance to play for India, he did very well. So this is a good platform for Shubman Gill to showcase his credentials once again and say that he can fit the bill as a top-order batsman in T20Is. There is no doubt about him in terms of one-day cricket and Test matches. . But it is in T20Is where he really needs to get back on track. In terms of captaincy, I think he has the right credentials. He has shown some maturity as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
But it is still a very evolving phase for Shubman Gill. I personally feel that at this stage it is more important for him to concentrate on his batting; then the captaincy, in any case, will come very naturally to him. But he has a healthy mind and thinks about the future.
He gets along well with his teammates on and off the field. Being in the dressing room with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and so many other experienced cricketers, along with Rahul David, I am sure he has learned a lot. For all that to happen, we will have to wait and see this upcoming series of Zimbabwe.P. With Jaiswal coming in late and Shubman being the captain, who do you think he can fit in as an opener and number three batsman?
A. There is a big chance that Shubman can take the number three spot and you can push Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma to the top spots. In my opinion, the Indian selectors are aiming to fill three top positions: two openers and number three.
So it depends on the type of strategy and combination that the selectors are considering and I think all three can be part of the playing XI in this T20 series. Maybe Shubman can open alongside Abhishek, and you can see Ruturaj coming in at number three, which is the kind of image I have in mind.Q. In terms of middle-order options, there are quite a few names like Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag, with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube arriving later. What do you think the composition of the middle order would be like here?
A. VVS (Laxman, the head coach in Zimbabwe) and Shubman will look to have a strong combination for the first two T20Is. For the last part, I am sure the other players who are now part of the Indian team will be able to join in. But I think that everyone who is part of the national team needs to get into the playing eleven.
Rinku Singh is there, and when Dube, Jaiswal and Samson come in, they will be assigned. So that's the kind of combination I'm considering. I am sure Dhruv Jurel will get a chance. But if the Indian team is looking for a batsman who can reach number five or six, maybe we will see him at that number. Riyan Parag is another very promising cricketer who can be given a chance in the same position. Therefore, there are several options available for VVS and Shubman to decide the middle order.
Q. Ravindra Jadeja's T20I retirement means there is a free space for spin bowling in the Indian team. With Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav rested, how important is this series in that context for Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi?
A. I think they both offer a lot of variations. But if you look at the current T20 team setup, the Indian team is looking to have more depth in their batting line-up. That's where Washington Sundar can come in handy. Now we have Axar Patel, who has done so well in the T20 World Cup. So if he makes it to the number seven spot, the Indian team would look to get another all-rounder in the mix. I think that's where Washington Sundar can be very useful with the bat, as you also have Kuldeep Yadav.
So right now, both Washington and Ravi Bishnoi will be very keen to do well and prove that they have the right credentials to play for the national team. But like I said, it all depends on the type of combination that the selectors and the team management are looking at.
Q. There are many options in the fast bowling department: Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed and Tushar Deshpande. What is the likely fast bowling combination you see for this series?A. In Zimbabwe conditions, you might feel Shubman and VVS prefer to play three-seamer bowlers. So, Mukesh Kumar would be my first pick, followed by Avesh and Khaleel as they were part of the Indian team's traveling squad in the T20 World Cup.
In all the opportunities that Mukesh Kumar has had while playing for the national team, he has done extremely well in all three formats and he is a much improved bowler. So, I see all three of them playing in the Zimbabwe series.
Q. Who are the players in this new Zimbabwe team that India should watch out for?A. Sikandar Raza as captain has been phenomenal and plays in all the Global T20 Leagues. So he has enough experience to do well against high quality teams. Whenever I have interacted with Raza, I get the impression that he really works very hard on his game, as well as understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.
He did quite well in the just concluded series against Bangladesh, although Zimbabwe lost it. I am also looking at Brian Bennett, another top-order batsman who did well against Bangladesh (135 runs). The biggest void Zimbabwe could fill would be to fill the absence of Sean Williams and Craig Erwine.
Both have been exceptional for Zimbabwe but are now out of the team. It also means that Zimbabwe is also looking to build a team for the future. They also have a Belgian-born Pakistani cricketer (Antum Naqvi) who is also part of the team. We will have to wait and see if he will be allowed to play due to his residential situation. Their pace bowlers are quite consistent and very disciplined, especially Muzarabani, who has a lot of experience. So I think all of these players would be forces to be reckoned with for Zimbabwe.
India's tour of Zimbabwe will be telecast live starting July 6 at 4:30 pm. m. IST on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD and HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD and HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD and HD (Tamil and Telugu). ).
In an exclusive interview with IANS, facilitated by Sony Sports Network, Karim discusses the potential for India to use the tour of Zimbabwe as a base to form a team for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
He also addresses the challenges that Shubman Gill may encounter in captaining India for the first time in international cricket and the make-up of the various departments of the series. Excerpts
. After the T20 World Cup triumph, how do you see this series against Zimbabwe from an Indian perspective to drive the team's evolution for future big events?A. I think this is absolutely the right time to start the transition period in the Indian T20 side. There are so many youngsters in the frame now who will be part of this series and it will be a great opportunity for the selectors to take a look at them. So far, if you look at the national selectors, you can see a pattern.
They have a vision and hope to invest in some of these cricketers, who they still believe are capable of making a mark in the T20 format. That is why they have been given more opportunities through this Zimbabwe series. There are some players who are newcomers to this format for the national team. So, it is a very good combination of some experienced T20 international cricketers along with some so-called domestic and IPL performers. So I think this is a pretty balanced setup.
Q. As someone who has been part of the selection committee before, can you talk about the selectors' thought process in identifying players for the future and nurturing them through tours like the upcoming Zimbabwe series?
A. Look, the role of the selector is to find the right type of combination. So once you have determined the space, it will be easy to fill that type of space with the available players. For example, for the opening position, you may have three or four openers in mind and want to try them all in different conditions against different types of opponents. That gives you a clear idea of who may fit the bill when it comes to games and more important events like the World Cup. I think that is the type of vision that the selectors should have. I'm sure Ajit and the company are looking into it. That's why, if you look closely, there are several starters in this lineup.
For example, you have Yashasvi Jaiswal, who joins the team later, and then you have Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. So there are so many contenders for opening and first-level jobs, for which the kind of planning the selectors will have to do is the key.
Similarly, for pace bowlers, there are many contenders in this Indian line-up such as Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed. So I think that's what the selectors are trying to do now: they want to test all these younger generation cricketers that they feel that in the future they can progress and do well for the national team.Q. This is the first time that Shubman Gill will lead the Indian team for the first time in international cricket. What are the challenges you foresee for him on the leadership front in Zimbabwe?
A. For a couple of seasons, Shubman Gill has always been considered an all-format player. It was quite unfortunate that Shubman Gill missed the recent T20 World Cup, although he was part of the traveling team as a reserve. All this happened because Rohit and Virat decided to open, with Yashasvi Jaiswal being a left-handed opener.
Even before that, whenever Jaiswal was given a chance to play for India, he did very well. So this is a good platform for Shubman Gill to showcase his credentials once again and say that he can fit the bill as a top-order batsman in T20Is. There is no doubt about him in terms of one-day cricket and Test matches. . But it is in T20Is where he really needs to get back on track. In terms of captaincy, I think he has the right credentials. He has shown some maturity as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
But it is still a very evolving phase for Shubman Gill. I personally feel that at this stage it is more important for him to concentrate on his batting; then the captaincy, in any case, will come very naturally to him. But he has a healthy mind and thinks about the future.
He gets along well with his teammates on and off the field. Being in the dressing room with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and so many other experienced cricketers, along with Rahul David, I am sure he has learned a lot. For all that to happen, we will have to wait and see this upcoming series of Zimbabwe.P. With Jaiswal coming in late and Shubman being the captain, who do you think he can fit in as an opener and number three batsman?
A. There is a big chance that Shubman can take the number three spot and you can push Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma to the top spots. In my opinion, the Indian selectors are aiming to fill three top positions: two openers and number three.
So it depends on the type of strategy and combination that the selectors are considering and I think all three can be part of the playing XI in this T20 series. Maybe Shubman can open alongside Abhishek, and you can see Ruturaj coming in at number three, which is the kind of image I have in mind.Q. In terms of middle-order options, there are quite a few names like Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag, with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube arriving later. What do you think the composition of the middle order would be like here?
A. VVS (Laxman, the head coach in Zimbabwe) and Shubman will look to have a strong combination for the first two T20Is. For the last part, I am sure the other players who are now part of the Indian team will be able to join in. But I think that everyone who is part of the national team needs to get into the playing eleven.
Rinku Singh is there, and when Dube, Jaiswal and Samson come in, they will be assigned. So that's the kind of combination I'm considering. I am sure Dhruv Jurel will get a chance. But if the Indian team is looking for a batsman who can reach number five or six, maybe we will see him at that number. Riyan Parag is another very promising cricketer who can be given a chance in the same position. Therefore, there are several options available for VVS and Shubman to decide the middle order.
Q. Ravindra Jadeja's T20I retirement means there is a free space for spin bowling in the Indian team. With Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav rested, how important is this series in that context for Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi?
A. I think they both offer a lot of variations. But if you look at the current T20 team setup, the Indian team is looking to have more depth in their batting line-up. That's where Washington Sundar can come in handy. Now we have Axar Patel, who has done so well in the T20 World Cup. So if he makes it to the number seven spot, the Indian team would look to get another all-rounder in the mix. I think that's where Washington Sundar can be very useful with the bat, as you also have Kuldeep Yadav.
So right now, both Washington and Ravi Bishnoi will be very keen to do well and prove that they have the right credentials to play for the national team. But like I said, it all depends on the type of combination that the selectors and the team management are looking at.
Q. There are many options in the fast bowling department: Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed and Tushar Deshpande. What is the likely fast bowling combination you see for this series?A. In Zimbabwe conditions, you might feel Shubman and VVS prefer to play three-seamer bowlers. So, Mukesh Kumar would be my first pick, followed by Avesh and Khaleel as they were part of the Indian team's traveling squad in the T20 World Cup.
In all the opportunities that Mukesh Kumar has had while playing for the national team, he has done extremely well in all three formats and he is a much improved bowler. So, I see all three of them playing in the Zimbabwe series.
Q. Who are the players in this new Zimbabwe team that India should watch out for?A. Sikandar Raza as captain has been phenomenal and plays in all the Global T20 Leagues. So he has enough experience to do well against high quality teams. Whenever I have interacted with Raza, I get the impression that he really works very hard on his game, as well as understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.
He did quite well in the just concluded series against Bangladesh, although Zimbabwe lost it. I am also looking at Brian Bennett, another top-order batsman who did well against Bangladesh (135 runs). The biggest void Zimbabwe could fill would be to fill the absence of Sean Williams and Craig Erwine.
Both have been exceptional for Zimbabwe but are now out of the team. It also means that Zimbabwe is also looking to build a team for the future. They also have a Belgian-born Pakistani cricketer (Antum Naqvi) who is also part of the team. We will have to wait and see if he will be allowed to play due to his residential situation. Their pace bowlers are quite consistent and very disciplined, especially Muzarabani, who has a lot of experience. So I think all of these players would be forces to be reckoned with for Zimbabwe.
India's tour of Zimbabwe will be telecast live starting July 6 at 4:30 pm. m. IST on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD and HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD and HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD and HD (Tamil and Telugu). ).
