In an upcoming white-ball series against Zimbabwe starting July 6, India is likely to field a youthful team under the captaincy of opener Shubman Gill, aged 24. With senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma expected to rest after their T20 World Cup commitments, the focus shifts to nurturing emerging talent.
The senior selection committee has proposed giving Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav a break to ensure their fitness ahead of a busy season. The squad for Zimbabwe includes in-form players like Abhishek Sharma from Sunrisers Hyderabad, alongside IPL regulars Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tushar Deshpande, and Harshit Rana. Additionally, those on the sidelines during the T20 World Cup—Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rinku Singh—are slated to join the squad.
A provisional 20-member team has been identified pending final confirmations from Pandya and Yadav. Gill, who returned from the USA along with pacer Avesh Khan, will lead the team, having been part of the T20 World Cup squad in a reserve capacity.
The tour presents an opportunity for India to test young talent in international conditions, aiming to build depth and resilience in the squad beyond established stars.
