Fans eagerly anticipate another round of T20 thrill as India's young talents gear up to make an impact in Zimbabwe, with Shubman Gill as the captain. Team India is scheduled for a 5-match T20 series against their opponents, starting today (July 6). The opening match kicks off at Harare Sports Club at 4:30 PM IST.
Several standout IPL performers have earned spots in India's squad for the IND vs ZIM T20I series, with chances high for some to debut in today's series opener.
Following the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from India's T20I team, Chennai Super Kings' Ruturaj Gaikwad and SRH's Abhishek Sharma are poised to open the innings. Captain Shubman Gill is anticipated to bat at number 3, a pivotal position in the lineup.
After Gill, Riyan Parag is likely to bat at number 4, followed by finisher Rinku Singh at number 5. Jitesh Sharma is in contention for the wicketkeeper's role.
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In the first T20I between IND and ZIM, the team is considering deploying two spinners, Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi. Sundar not only strengthens the bowling attack but also bolsters the batting order. India may also lean on a trio of pace bowlers: Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mukesh Kumar.
Shubman Gill, the young batsman chosen as captain for the Zimbabwe tour, will debut his T20 leadership while aiming to outscore six top players in T20 International runs for the nation.
As of now, Gill has accumulated 335 runs in T20 format. Should he score 65 more runs today, he would enter the list of players who have scored 400 runs in T20 for the country.
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In addition to them, Tilak Varma (336), Rinku Singh (356), Deepak Hooda (368), Sanju Samson (374), Ajinkya Rahane (375), and Virender Sehwag (394) will trail in terms of scoring the highest runs.
Regarding Shubman Gill's T20 International cricket career, he has participated in 14 matches for Team India to date. In this span, he has accumulated 335 runs, averaging 25.77. His top individual batting performance in T20 cricket stands at 126 runs, showcasing a strike rate of 147.58.