India T20 Squad For Zimbabwe Announced, Sanju Samson’s Replacement Picked

Indian Cricket Team. Image Credits: AFP

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named a strong 15-player India squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. As per the schedule, the Indian cricket team is set to face Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series. 

The series will commence merely a couple of days after the conclusion of India’s ongoing white-ball tour of England. It is worth noting that BCCI dropped India’s star opener Sanju Samson from the Zimbabwe tour, with young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gradually taking his place at the top of the order. 

Apart from excluding Samson from the group, the BCCI also made a slew of changes to the line-up that toured Ireland and England for seven T20I matches. 

Punjab Kings star replaces Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson has been dropped from Team India squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. In place of the struggling top-order batter, the BCCI has included uncapped star Prabhsimran Singh in the 15-player group.

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Prabhsimran recently enjoyed a prolific IPL 2026 season for the Punjab Kings franchise. In 13 innings of the tournament, the dynamic opener minted 510 runs at an average of 42.50 and with a staggering strike rate of 168.87. 

Sanju Samson, on the other hand, has struggled to replicate his T20 World Cup and IPL 2026 success on India’s European tour. In his three appearances so far, the blistering opener has aggregated just six runs at a dismal average of two, before getting replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the top in the second T20I match against England in Manchester. 

Rinku Singh returns, Yash Thakur and Ashok Sharma receive maiden call-up

India’s hard-hitting middle-order batter Rinku Singh has been called back into the national side for the T20I series in Zimbabwe. The cricketer was excluded from India squad for the series in Ireland and England.

Apart from firebrand opener Prabhsimran Singh, the BCCI has also handed Yash Thakur and Ashok Sharma their maiden international call-ups. Harsh Dubey is also another potential debutant for the tour, however, the bowling all-rounder has previously represented India in a couple of ODIs against Afghanistan.

Shreyas Iyer will continue to lead the side, with Tilak Varma set to serve as his deputy. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan will once again be expected to helm India’s top three. Here is a look at the entire India squad for the upcoming three-match T20I tour of Zimbabwe.

India squad for Zimbabwe T20I series: Shreyas Iyer (c), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav and Prabhsimran Singh (wk).

India tour of Zimbabwe 2026 schedule

Team India will take flight for Zimbabwe in a couple of weeks’ time to play a three-match T20I series. Each of the three T20Is will be hosted by the Harare Sports Club in Harare. 

The matches will be played on July 23, July 25 and July 26 respectively. The series presents new captain Shreyas Iyer yet another shot at redemption, after suffering an embarrassing 0-2 defeat in Ireland last month. 

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