New Delhi. After the end of the England tour, the Indian men’s cricket team is now fully prepared for its next challenge. The bugle has sounded for the three-match T20 International series against Zimbabwe. All three matches of this series will be played at the historic ground of Harare Sports Club, which is starting from Thursday (23 July). The command of the Indian team has once again been handed over to Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas will have a great opportunity to register his first T20 International win as captain. The Indian team is taking the field on this tour with a very strong and aggressive batting line-up. The team includes world number 1 T-20 international batsman Ishan Kishan and number 2 T-20 batsman Abhishek Sharma. Apart from these, talented players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Tilak Verma are giving new depth to Indian batting.
For their third overseas T20 series of 2026, the Indian selectors have included some very interesting and new faces in the bowling attack. Former number 1 T20 bowler Varun Chakravarthy had got a place in the initial team, but due to an injury suffered during the third T20 played against England in Nottingham, he has been ruled out of this tour.
Major changes in the team compared to the England tour
If we compare the Zimbabwe tour team with the previous series played against England, then the selectors have made many important changes in the team. Aligarh’s left-handed aggressive batsman Rinku Singh, who was a part of the winning team of T-20 World Cup 2026, has made a strong comeback in the team. After being out of the two series in United Kingdom, he will once again be seen hitting fours and sixes in the blue jersey. Apart from him, fast bowler Mayank Yadav has also returned to the team. Mayank, who made his debut against Bangladesh in October 2024, was struggling with injuries for a long time, but now he is fully fit and ready to wreak havoc.
Continuing its policy of giving opportunity to new faces, the selection committee has included two uncapped fast bowlers Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur in the national team for the first time. At the same time, Vidarbha spinner Harsh Dubey has now got the gift of his first T20 call-up after his ODI debut against Afghanistan in June 2026. Punjab Kings star Prabhsimran Singh has also been given a place as wicketkeeper-batsman. Prabhasimran, who scored the most runs for his franchise in IPL 2026, was earlier a part of the Indian team for the 2023 Asian Games, although he did not get a chance to debut then.
These players had to be out
Along with the entry of new faces, some experienced names have also had to look for the exit. Sanju Samson, who played in the first and fifth T20 against England, has not got a place in the team for this series. This decision of the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar has definitely sparked some discussion among fans and experts. Apart from Sanju, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, who were the main pillars of the fast bowling attack, have been left out. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as spin all-rounders are also not part of this Zimbabwe tour.
retained players
Despite all the changes, the selectors have expressed confidence in the core group of the team. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, these nine players Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Verma (vice-captain), Shivam Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Prince Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi have also retained their places for the Zimbabwe tour after the England series.
Indian team selected for Zimbabwe T-20 series
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper) and Ravi Bishnoi.
Indian team went on England tour
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Tilak Verma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Suryansh Shedge, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakraborty.
