Cricket

India's historic triumph in the T20 World Cup has ignited a wave of inspiration and motivation among the country's rising stars. Abhishek Sharma, who witnessed the thrilling victory alongside mentor Yuvraj Singh, expressed his awe at the emotions displayed by the former all-rounder."Watching Yuvi paji get emotional after India's win was a profound moment," said Sharma. "It's a dream for all of us to win an ICC trophy, and he has done it multiple times. I will never forget that moment."The young cricketers set to represent India in the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe have expressed their admiration and determination to emulate their senior counterparts. Shubman Gill, leading the contingent for the first time, hailed the World Cup victory as a "feather in the cap" for the team."It's a special moment for all of them and for me," said Gill. "They have worked very hard for this."Ruturaj Gaikwad expressed his delight at witnessing the legendary trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja bid farewell to T20I cricket on a high note. "To have a win of this kind, where we were almost in the jaws of defeat, and then to come back and win is a special moment," said Gaikwad.Riyan Parag, set to make his T20I debut against Zimbabwe, termed India's victory as an inspiration for all budding cricketers in the nation. "It's motivating for all of us, and the young cricketers in India," said Parag.Fresh off an impressive IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Abhishek Sharma had the privilege of watching the final alongside the legendary Yuvraj Singh. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel employed an unconventional approach, reverse-jinxing the outcome to ensure India's victory.The pacers, Mukesh Kumar and Tushar Deshpande, described the win as a "miracle", while Avesh Khan celebrated the momentous occasion with local fans, vowing to maintain the high standards set by the World Cup-winning team. Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar echoed similar sentiments, with Bishnoi expressing his joy through solitary celebrations in his hotel room.

India's T20 team embarks on a new chapter without its talismanic duo, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as they embark on a five-match series against Zimbabwe starting July 6 in Harare. This series marks a transition for the team, as they seek to identify and nurture future stars for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.Shubman Gill, who was a reserve in the T20 World Cup-winning squad, will lead the young Indian team. He will be joined by a host of IPL performers, including Punjab's Abhishek Sharma, Assam's Riyan Parag, and Sanju Samson. All these players are expected to make their international debuts during the series.The absence of Rohit and Kohli will be felt, but it also presents an opportunity for the new faces to showcase their skills. Zimbabwe may not be the most formidable opposition, but in T20 cricket, the gap between teams is relatively smaller. The hosts, led by the gutsy Sikandar Raza, could prove to be a handful on nippy afternoons at the Harare Sports Club.The series will provide valuable experience for the young Indian players, who will be vying for a place in the team for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will join the squad from the third match onwards, giving them a chance to impress.The Indian team will play 34 T20 matches between now and the 2026 World Cup. The likes of Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav will also be back in the fold, but there will be limited vacancies in the playing eleven.The series against Zimbabwe will be a crucial step in India's preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The young players will have the opportunity to prove their mettle and stake their claim for a place in the team.

Team India, fresh from their triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024, is set to embark on a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, commencing on July 6. The Indian contingent, led by opening batter Shubman Gill, features a blend of experienced and uncapped players as the team looks to nurture future talent in the shortest format.The series marks the international debut for Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Tushar Deshpande, who have impressed with their performances in domestic cricket. Parag, who emerged as the third-highest run-getter in the recent IPL season, expressed his excitement and admitted to misplacing his passport and phones due to his overwhelming enthusiasm."So excited that I've forgotten my passport. I've forgotten my phone. I've not forgotten, I've misplaced them. But I have it now," Parag said in a video posted by the BCCI.Abhishek Sharma, another debutant, revealed that he received a congratulatory call from his Punjab teammate Shubman Gill after his selection. "I felt very good. Before my interview, when I reached home, my parents were giving interviews. I felt proud," Sharma said.The Indian squad for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe has undergone some changes due to the delayed departure of the T20 World Cup-winning players from Barbados. Sai Sudarshan, Jitesh Sharma, and Harshit Rana have been added as replacements for Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.The series against Zimbabwe provides an opportunity for India to experiment with new combinations and assess the potential of emerging players. As the team transitions into a new era following the retirement of senior stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, the focus will be on identifying and grooming future stars.

The Indian cricket team, led by Shubman Gill, is embarking on a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, commencing on July 6 in Harare. This series marks a significant opportunity for young talents to showcase their abilities and establish themselves in the national team.The squad, overseen by National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman, features a blend of experienced players and promising newcomers. Among the fresh faces are Riyan Parag and Abhishek Sharma, who have impressed with their performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Shubman Gill, who was previously the reserve opener for the T20 World Cup, will join the team directly from the United States. The BCCI has shared images of the squad boarding their flight on social media.However, five key players—Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Khaleel Ahmed—are currently stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl. These players, who were part of the T20 World Cup-winning team or traveling reserves, will join the team in Zimbabwe once the weather improves.The recent retirements of senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from the T20 format have created opportunities for younger players. This series against Zimbabwe presents a crucial chance for these emerging talents to solidify their positions in the national team for future engagements.India's squad for the T20I series against Zimbabwe:* Shubman Gill (captain)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Ruturaj Gaikwad* Abhishek Sharma* Rinku Singh* Sanju Samson (wk)* Dhruv Jurel (wk)* Shivam Dube* Riyan Parag* Washington Sundar* Ravi Bishnoi* Avesh Khan* Khaleel Ahmed* Mukesh Kumar* Tushar Deshpande

India's Second-String Team Embarks on Zimbabwe Tour for T20I SeriesA second-string Indian cricket team, led by Shubman Gill, has departed for Zimbabwe to participate in a five-match T20I series beginning on July 6. The tour marks a significant opportunity for India to assess its T20 future following the retirements of senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.The Indian squad boasts a strong contingent of openers, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhishek Sharma. Gill and Jaiswal are expected to form the opening partnership in the first T20I in Harare on Saturday.The series will also provide a platform for several T20 World Cup standbys to showcase their skills. Pacers Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, and finisher Rinku Singh, along with Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, are all part of the touring party.The Indian team will be eager to make a strong impression in Zimbabwe, particularly with the T20 World Cup scheduled for later this year. The series will offer valuable experience for the younger players and help the team identify potential replacements for the departed veterans.The Zimbabwean team, led by Sikandar Raza, will be looking to put up a strong fight against the Indian visitors. The series will be played entirely in Harare, with the first T20I scheduled for July 6.

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has endorsed the decision to appoint Shubman Gill as captain for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. Sehwag believes Gill is the ideal candidate to eventually succeed Rohit Sharma as India's permanent captain.Gill, who has impressed in all three formats, will lead an inexperienced squad in Zimbabwe. The series will serve as a platform for young players to showcase their talent and stake a claim for future selection.Sehwag praised Gill's leadership qualities and suggested that he has the potential to become a long-term captain for India. "Shubman Gill is a player who plays all three formats. He's had a great last year. He was unlucky to miss out on the 2024 T20 World Cup. According to me, it is the right decision to make him the captain. When Rohit Sharma leaves tomorrow, Shubman Gill will be his right replacement for captaincy," Sehwag said.The squad for the Zimbabwe series includes a mix of experienced and uncapped players. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson are the only two players from the main T20 World Cup squad, while promising youngsters like Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, and Riyan Parag have received maiden call-ups.The series will provide an opportunity for these young players to gain valuable international experience and demonstrate their abilities. The first match will be played on July 6 at the Harare Sports Club, with the second and third matches scheduled for the same venue on July 7 and 14, respectively.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing to send a young Indian team to Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series in July, while the senior players rest ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.Shubman Gill is expected to lead the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav. The squad will likely include promising IPL stars like Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tushar Deshpande, and Harshit Rana.Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rinku Singh, who are currently with the Indian team in the USA and West Indies for the T20 World Cup, will also join the Zimbabwe-bound squad.With Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India's new head coach still pending, National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman is likely to accompany the team to Zimbabwe along with other coaches. Gambhir is expected to take over for the subsequent tour of Sri Lanka in late July.

Shubman Gill has refuted allegations of indiscipline following his departure from India's T20 World Cup squad. The young batsman took to social media to dismiss rumors, posting a photo with Rohit Sharma and his daughter, captioned "Sammy and I learning the art of discipline from Rohit Sharma."Gill was among four reserve players accompanying India's squad for the tournament. With the group stage complete, he and Avesh Khan are set to return home. Unconfirmed reports suggested Gill's departure was due to disciplinary issues, but India's batting coach Vikram Rathour has denied these claims.Rathour explained that the management team had pre-planned to release two reserve players after the Caribbean leg. "This was a plan from the beginning. When we come to the US, four players will come together. After that two will be released and two will travel with us to West Indies," he said.India's group stage concluded with a washed-out match against Canada. They topped Group A with seven points from three matches and qualified for the Super 8 stage. They will face Australia, Afghanistan, and potentially Bangladesh in the next round.Gill's departure has sparked speculation about his future with the Indian team. The 23-year-old has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League. He was expected to play a significant role in India's T20 World Cup campaign, but his exclusion from the squad has raised questions about his standing within the team.Despite the rumors, Gill remains a highly-rated prospect. His performances for Gujarat Titans in the IPL have earned him praise from experts and fans alike. He is likely to be recalled to the Indian team in the near future and will be determined to prove his worth.

The Indian cricket team has made an impressive start to the T20 World Cup 2024, winning all three of their matches in the USA leg. However, two members of the traveling reserves, Shubman Gill and Avesh Khan, are set to return home after the USA leg ends on June 15.Gill and Khan were part of the traveling reserves in the side, which are sent for big events as it is not possible for the boards to send in reinforcements in case of injury. The other two traveling reserves, Rinku Singh and Khaleel Ahmed, will continue to stay with the Indian cricket team.Meanwhile, former India pacer Sreesanth expects to see a shift in the composition of the Indian bowling attack with the change of location. He believes that star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal should come into India's playing eleven once the 'Super 8s' stage of the ICC T20 World Cup begins in the Caribbean islands.India selected four spinners for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, but pace has been the major component of their assault in the first three games of the tournament. India captain Rohit Sharma used only three overs of spin against the United States on Wednesday in the Group A match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, as pace bowling proved most effective on the low-scoring New York pitch."Chahal could come in. Rahul [Rahul Dravid] Bhai knows what changes should be made in the West Indies that is why we have gone with four spinners. Even in the press conference, Rohit said that he doesn't want to reveal why they are taking four spinners. But there will be changes, especially in the spinning department. The way Axar is batting and bowling it wil be a big call for the team whom should they drop out. It will be a really difficult call," Sreesanth said.