After becoming the World Champions last month, the next generation started on a winning note with a 4-1 series victory in Zimbabwe. Here’s how the players have fared during the away series. 

Abhishek Sharma: 8/10

124 runs @ 31; SR: 174.64
Two wickets @58; ER: 8.92

Entering the series on the back of a breakthrough IPL 2024, Abhishek had a forgettable debut but soon turned things around with a record-breaking hundred in the second match. He was pushed down to No.3 to accommodate Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top and couldn't make a mark thereafter. Abhishek chipped in with two wickets with his handy left-arm orthodox.

Still, India are expected to persist with the dashing left-hand batter to stay up to date with the changing demands of the format. Given his high-risk approach, the consistency might take a hit. But that’s a reasonable bargain for his high strike rate at the top.

Yashasvi Jaiswal: 9/10

141 runs @ 70.50; SR: 165.88

Jaiswal came into the side for the third match and looked to attack from the word go with every chance he had got. He smashed an unbeaten 53-ball 93 in a record-breaking 156-run opening stand with captain Shubman Gill, who remained not out on 58 off 39.

By the looks of it, going forward for India, Jaiswal’s spot as an opener is all but guaranteed.

Shubman Gill: 7/10

170 runs @ 42.50; SR: 125.92

Gill finished as the leading run-scorer of the series but his strike-rate leaves a lot to be desired. Though he is earmarked as India's next all-format superstar after Virat Kohli retired from T20Is, it remains to be seen how long an opportunity he will get to rest his case in India’s T20I outfit.

Ruturaj Gaikwad: 9/10

133 runs @ 66.50; SR: 158.33

Gaikwad can be a viable No.3 batter for India if given a longer rope. In the three chances he got, he finished with a 77 not out off 47 in the second T20I, where India posted 234-2, followed by a 28-ball 49 in the next, coming in a place lower than his previous batting position.

B Sai Sudharsan: N/A

No runs @ N/A; SR: N/A

The highly-rated Sai Sudharsan was handed his T20I cap in the second match after an impressive debut in India’s 2-1 series victory in South Africa in December last year, followed by a decent IPL. He played once but was unable to open his account.

Rinku Singh: 7/10

60 runs @ 60; SR: 176.47

Rinku utilised most of the limited opportunities he had as India’s finisher, with his series highlight being a 22-ball 48 not out in the high-scoring second match.

Shivam Dube: 7/10

26 runs @ 26; SR: 216.66
Three wickets @ 21; ER: 7.87

Having come good at the back end of India's World Cup win, Dube was given another go to prove his mettle. Given his gentle medium pace and long levers with the bat in the middle overs, the all-rounder is possibly the closest clone to Hardik Pandya India can find.

In the only chance he got to bat in the final match, he struck 26 off 12 before a run-out mishap cut short his stay. With the ball, he picked up 2-25 in the same outing to instil India's confidence in him.

Dhruv Jurel: 3/10

Six runs @ 6; SR: 42.85

Having caught the attention in his debut Test series against England earlier this year, Jurel was one of the front-runners to be India’s wicketkeeper for the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, he fell out of contention owing to a poor IPL. An opportunity finally arrived in the same match as Abhishek’s but didn’t do anything noteworthy.

Riyan Parag: 2/10

24 runs @ 12; SR: 88.88
No wickets @ ; ER: 5

A career-defining Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023/24 and IPL 2024 earned Riyan his maiden India call-up. He became North-East India's first men's international cricketer when he made his debut, along with Abhishek and Jurel in the series opener.

However, Parag was soon dealt with the harsh reality of international cricket: he was dropped in the third match after failing to impress. He got another chance in the last fixture but disappointed again with a scratchy 22 off 24 balls.

Sanju Samson: 7.5/10

70 runs @ 70; SR: 134.61

Samson has been in India’s setup for a while, but his chances have always been sporadic. After spending the T20 World Cup on the sidelines as India’s second-choice wicketkeeper, Samson had a go in three matches. Of the two outings he batted, he contributed with a seven-ball 12 in the third match before capping off with a 45-ball 58 to help India post 167-6 in the final game.

Washington Sundar: 9.5/10

28 runs @ 12; SR: 80
Eight wickets @11.62; ER: 5.16

Washington Sundar was the Player of the Series for his tight bowling. His best of 3-15 came in the third match, where he restricted the opponents well short of India’s 182-run target with a brilliant display of old-fashioned finger spin.

In the first match, Washington Sundar’s 27 with the bat almost took India home after an initial collapse but struggled to connect the ball in the end, resulting in an upset.

Ravi Bishnoi: 8.5/10

Six wickets @ 13.83; ER: 5.18

From rising to the top of the Men’s T20I rankings to losing out on a place in the World Cup, Bishnoi had a tough pill to swallow. He will sign off from the series with immense confidence. A 4-13 in the series opener was his best return. Although he picked two wickets thereafter, his overall numbers were economical.

Mukesh Kumar: 9/10

Seven wickets @ 9.37; ER: 7.37

Arguably the best pacer between the two sides, Mukesh capped off the series with a career-best 4-22 in 3.3 overs.

Avesh Khan: 7/10

Six wickets @13.83; ER: 7.54

This was a valuable learning experience for Avesh Khan. He played the first three games, returning with figures of 1-29, 3-15 and 2-39, respectively.

Tushar Deshpande: 2/10

Two wickets @27.50; ER: 9.16

One of the few domestic pacers with a fast bowling contract from the BCCI, Deshpande was India's fifth debutant of the series. Playing the last two games, he failed to impress with only a wicket to show to his name.

Khaleel Ahmed: 6.5/10

Three wickets @25; ER: 6.81

A long-awaited international return finally arrived for Khaleel in the first match, where he leaked 28 off his three overs. He was dropped before roaring back to form with 1-15 in the third match. In the fourth fixture, he returned 2-32 before being omitted yet again.

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