The ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is in full swing, but despite this, attention is already shifting towards the upcoming Zimbabwe versus India T20I series in July. The five-match T20I series will begin on July 6 and will set a platform for the next generation of Indian cricket stars, with a new head coach at the helm.
India’s upcoming tour of Zimbabwe could be the first assignment for the incoming coach, widely speculated to be Gautam Gambhir, who has already given an interview for the job.
Possibly with Gambhir at the helm, there is a good chance that promising youngsters who shined in IPL 2024 such as Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy and Riyan Parag will get a chance on the tour of Zimbabwe.
Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma step away from T20Is after T20 World Cup 2024?
The Zimbabwe versus India T20I series will serve as a platform for young talent to showcase their skills on an international stage, starting a new era for Indian cricket.
Meanwhile, fans and cricket experts are abuzz with discussions about the future of the stalwarts. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20I format after the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup in 2024.
However, it has not been an official announcement but the PTI report suggested that Kohli and Rohit will shift their focus to ODI and Test cricket after the ongoing T20 World Cup in 2024.
Indian captain Kohli will have a break from T20Is due to India’s busy schedule, which includes nine crucial World Test Championship (WTC) matches between September 2024 and January 2025.
On the other hand, the BCCI is likely to announce the Indian team for the tour of Zimbabwe next week, but the announcement could face a delay due to the imminent appointment of the new head coach of the Indian team.
A new era is about to begin for Indian cricket as young stars are set to shine on tour of Zimbabwe
The Indian selectors may get feedback from the new head coach if the BCCI ends. Players who set IPL 2024 on fire with their remarkable performances such as Riyan Parag, Mayank Yadav and Abhishek Sharma are the favorites to earn their first call-up to the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series in Zimbabwe.
These players, who are currently honing their skills at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, are eager to transition their IPL success to the international arena. Besides, T20 World Cup 2024 Reserves Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed are also likely to feature in the upcoming T20I series.
According to the PTI report, Hardik Pandya is expected to lead the Men in Blue in the tour of Zimbabwe. Star speedster Jasprit Bumrah, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant are also said to be likely to be rested for the tour of Zimbabwe after the 2024 T20 World Cup as they have been playing non-stop cricket for the last few months.
A BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity: “Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana, Nitish Reddy, Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yash Dayal are all in the NCA camp. “Some will go to the T20Is in Zimbabwe.”
