IND vs ZIM 1st T20I: Shreyas Iyer-led India opt to bowl, Ashok Sharma makes T20I debut vs Zimbabwe
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first as India took on Zimbabwe in the opening T20I in Harare. Milton Shumba misses out due to injury.
India will begin their five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe on Thursday with newly appointed captain Shreyas Iyer hoping to register his first victory as the team’s skipper.
After back-to-back series defeats against Ireland and England, Iyer said the focus is on adapting quickly to the conditions in Harare and making a strong start.
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Iyer urges India to embrace the challenge and stay focused on the present
Speaking ahead of the opening T20I, Iyer described the Zimbabwe tour as an exciting opportunity and stressed the importance of staying in the present while embracing every challenge. He expressed confidence that the team would acclimatise quickly and strive for the best possible results.
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“Definitely, it is going to be a thrilling series. Looking forward to playing an exciting game over here. We definitely want to be on the winning side. So let’s get used to the practice session, the weather, the conditions as quickly as possible and see to it that we get the best results. I’m excited to be here. It’s a great opportunity. I see it as an amazing opportunity. Can’t be thinking beyond, but I want to stay in the present and embrace each and every moment as much as possible,” Iyer said.
Harare reunion for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma
The series also marks a return to familiar surroundings for teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who announced himself on the global stage at the Harare Sports Club by smashing 175 off 80 balls in the ICC U-19 World Cup final earlier this year.
Opener Abhishek Sharma, meanwhile, returns to the venue where he scored his maiden T20I century during India’s 2024 tour of Zimbabwe.
India’s squad for Zimbabwe T20I series
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Ravi Bishnoi.
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