India's first assignment after the ongoing T20 World Cup is a tour of Zimbabwe, set to start from July 6, the squad (including several uncapped players) for which was announced on Monday (June 24) by the BCCI.

Update, June 26: Nitish Reddy was originally named in the squad but was replaced by Shivam Dube due to injury.

The squad will be led by Shubman Gill, who was not in India's squad of fifteen for the T20 World Cup, but had travelled as a reserve player. Gill captained Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024, but endured a difficult season following the departure of Hardik Pandya.

The only members of India's T20 World Cup squad who have been picked for the Zimbabwe tour are Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson and his IPL teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rinku Singh, picked here, was named among India's reserves for the tournament.

India's tour of Zimbabwe: Which players have received maiden call-ups?

There are four maiden international call-ups; Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Nitish Reddy (he has been ruled out two days after the initial squad announcement) and Tushar Deshpande. All four players enjoyed stellar IPL 2024 campaigns in different roles, but it remains to be seen how they will fit together in India colours. Dhruv Jurel has also been called up for the first time in white-ball cricket, after he impressed against England in a home Test series earlier this year.

Notable exclusions from the squad are Tilak Varma, Mayank Yadav and Harshit Rana. Tilak has impressed in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, with 1988 runs in three seasons at an average of 40 and strike rate of 148. Yadav's ability to clock pace in the high 150s excited one and all this IPL season, but he has also been affected by injury. Rana's variations and prowess as a T20 bowler were on display for IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders this year, but the selectors may have deemed this tour too early for him.

India squad for Zimbabwe T20Is

Batters: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag

Bowlers: Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande

All-rounders: Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy (replaced by Shivam Dube), Washington Sundar

Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel

 

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