The series holds great significance from India's perspective as it begins its journey towards forming a team for the T20 World Cup 2026 to be jointly hosted by them and Sri Lanka. With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retiring after the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, there are spots up for grabs in the national set-up that the young team led by Gill would be eager to claim.
“I think it looks like a good surface. It won't change much later. It's been a long time coming. We won an ICC event after 11 years. Very satisfied, I hope many more come. Don’t feel pressure, you have expectations, but from yourself, not from outside,” said Gill, in his first assignment as India captain, after winning the toss.
Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, Abhishek hit 42 sixes, the most of any batsman in the competition, while amassing 484 runs in 16 innings, including three half-centuries. Hailing from Amritsar in Punjab, Abhishek is mentored by Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara. He was also the Player of the Tournament in Punjab's triumph in the 2023/24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, for amassing 485 runs in ten innings in the competition.
Abhishek's teammate in the 2018 U19 World Cup triumph, Parag had his coming-of-age season in IPL 2024 for Rajasthan Royals, amassing 573 runs in 14 innings as a middle-order batsman and hitting 33 sixes while batting four. fifty. His father Parag Das, a former Assam first-class cricketer, presented him with his debut T20I cap.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jurel, on the other hand, impressed in his first Test series against England at home, earning the Player of the Match award in Ranchi. In IPL 2024, Jurel amassed 195 runs in 11 innings while playing for Rajasthan Royals.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said: “I don't mind batting first. The wicket looks good. Zimbabwe Cricket has entrusted me with this transition phase. I'm looking for young guys to go out and fight. It is humbling to lead this group. Sean (Williams) has retired. It's a young team. (Craig) Ervine will have a role going forward.”
Playing XI:
India: Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed
Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande (wk), Wessly Madhevere, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara
“I think it looks like a good surface. It won't change much later. It's been a long time coming. We won an ICC event after 11 years. Very satisfied, I hope many more come. Don’t feel pressure, you have expectations, but from yourself, not from outside,” said Gill, in his first assignment as India captain, after winning the toss.
Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, Abhishek hit 42 sixes, the most of any batsman in the competition, while amassing 484 runs in 16 innings, including three half-centuries. Hailing from Amritsar in Punjab, Abhishek is mentored by Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara. He was also the Player of the Tournament in Punjab's triumph in the 2023/24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, for amassing 485 runs in ten innings in the competition.
Abhishek's teammate in the 2018 U19 World Cup triumph, Parag had his coming-of-age season in IPL 2024 for Rajasthan Royals, amassing 573 runs in 14 innings as a middle-order batsman and hitting 33 sixes while batting four. fifty. His father Parag Das, a former Assam first-class cricketer, presented him with his debut T20I cap.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jurel, on the other hand, impressed in his first Test series against England at home, earning the Player of the Match award in Ranchi. In IPL 2024, Jurel amassed 195 runs in 11 innings while playing for Rajasthan Royals.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said: “I don't mind batting first. The wicket looks good. Zimbabwe Cricket has entrusted me with this transition phase. I'm looking for young guys to go out and fight. It is humbling to lead this group. Sean (Williams) has retired. It's a young team. (Craig) Ervine will have a role going forward.”
Playing XI:
India: Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed
Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande (wk), Wessly Madhevere, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara
