Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube are among the players included in India’s playing XI for the 3rd T20I against Zimbabwe, marking significant changes to the lineup.
The third T20I between India and Zimbabwe saw the return of T20 World Cup-winning players Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube to the Indian playing XI after their delayed return from Barbados. These players were unavailable for the first two games but made an impactful comeback in Wednesday’s match.
Joining them was Khaleel Ahmed, who returned to the XI after being rested for the second T20I. Their inclusion meant that Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sai Sudharsan, and Mukesh Kumar were omitted from the team to accommodate the returning stars.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, known for his explosive batting, played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph with his consistent performances throughout the tournament. Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper-batsman, provided stability in the middle order and showcased his ability to accelerate when needed. Shivam Dube’s all-round skills were instrumental in India’s success, contributing with both bat and ball.
Khaleel Ahmed’s return added depth to the bowling attack, bringing his pace and variations back into the mix for India. His experience in T20 cricket has been valuable, especially in crunch situations.
The changes in the playing XI reflect India’s strategy to integrate their victorious T20 World Cup squad members back into the side while maintaining a balanced team composition against Zimbabwe. The decision to rest certain players also underscores the team management’s focus on managing workload and giving opportunities to deserving talents.
As the T20I series progresses, all eyes will be on how these returning stars contribute to India’s campaign against Zimbabwe, aiming to build on their recent success and further strengthen their T20 credentials on the international stage.
India captain Shubman Gill opted to bat first after winning the toss, citing the moisture in the pitch as potentially advantageous. “We’ve got the WC back, Sanju, Jaiswal, and Shivam are in. So is Khaleel, Mukesh rests for this one. We feel we have a balanced side,” Gill remarked.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, on the other hand, confirmed that they would have chosen to bowl first regardless. “The surface isn’t as moist as earlier, not very flat. We expect the seamers to come into the contest, and there might be some slow turn,” he commented. Raza emphasized the need for his team to learn from past matches and support their bowlers to restrict India to a low total. Zimbabwe made two changes, with Innocent Kaia sidelined due to a slight injury, making way for Tadiwanashe Marumani.
Playing XIs:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson (w), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed
Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wessly Madhevere, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande (w), Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara
