Sanju Samson Axed, Rinku Singh Returns As BCCI Announce India's T20I Squad For Zimbabwe Series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which will begin on July 23. The BCCI selectors handed maiden call-ups to pacers Yash Thakur and Ashok Sharma.

One of the biggest talking points is the omission of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. After being left out of the playing XI for the second T20I against England, Samson has now failed to find a place in the squad for the Zimbabwe tour as well.

With Samson unavailable, young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to partner Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order. Middle-order batter Rinku Singh has also returned to the squad after missing out on India’s T20I squad for the ongoing UK tour.

India have also made several changes to their bowling attack. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who is currently leading the pace unit in England, has not been picked. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and all-rounder Washington Sundar have also been left out following their disappointing performances on the UK tour. Fast bowler Harshit Rana, who is part of the ongoing England series, has also missed out on selection.

Meanwhile, there is good news for Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mayank Yadav, who has earned a comeback to the Indian T20I squad after nearly two years. His last appearance for India came against Bangladesh on October 12, 2024.

In total, seven players from the current T20I squad against England are not named in the T20I squad against Zimbabwe. This seems like the BCCI has rested them to manage their workload. 

Players who are retained in India's T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series

The BCCI have retained nine players in the squad, including skipper Shreyas Iyer, vice-captain Tilak Varma, and openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma.

• * Shreyas Iyer
• * Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
• * Abhishek Sharma
• * Tilak Varma
• * Ishan Kishan
• * Shivam Dube
• * Suryansh Shedge
• * Varun Chakravarthy
• * Prince Yadav

Players who dropped from India's squad vs Zimbabwe

• Sanju Samson
• Harshit Rana
• Axar Patel
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Arshdeep Singh
• Washington Sundar
• Prasidh Krishna

New faces for Zimbabwe series

Apart from that, the Indian cricket board added six new players to India's squad for the Zimbabwe series. 

• Rinku Singh
• Harsh Dubey
• Yash Thakur
• Ashok Sharma
• Mayank Yadav
• Prabhsimran Singh

India's schedule for Zimbabwe series

India's T20I squad against Zimbabwe

Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK).