India’s T20I journey after the England tour continues with a fresh challenge as Shreyas Iyer’s side takes on Zimbabwe in a three-match series starting July 23 at the Harare Sports Club. While the series may not carry the pressure of a major ICC tournament, it offers plenty of opportunities for young players to make a mark before a packed international calendar.
With a revamped squad, a few surprise omissions, and several exciting new faces, the series promises to give fans an early glimpse of India’s next generation of T20 talent.
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India begin Zimbabwe tour with a fresh-looking squad
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has handed Shreyas Iyer the captaincy for the three-match T20I series, with the selectors opting for a mix of experienced campaigners and promising youngsters.
One of the biggest changes came after Varun Chakravarthy was ruled out because of a hamstring injury. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi has been drafted into the squad as his replacement after medical assessments confirmed that Chakravarthy was not fit to travel.
Sanju Samson is another notable absentee. Despite being included in India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games later this year, the wicketkeeper-batter has not been picked for the Zimbabwe series. The BCCI has not officially explained whether the decision is due to workload management or selection preferences.
Several other established names, including Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, have also missed out.
At the same time, the selectors have rewarded domestic performers. Prabhsimran Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur have all earned their maiden T20I call-ups, while Rinku Singh and express pacer Mayank Yadav return to India’s T20 setup.
India vs Zimbabwe 2026 T20I Series Schedule
| Date | Match | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 23, 2026 | 1st T20I | 4:30 PM | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
| July 25, 2026 | 2nd T20I | 4:30 PM | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
| July 26, 2026 | 3rd T20I | 4:30 PM | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
India vs Zimbabwe live telecast and streaming
Cricket fans in India can watch all three T20Is live on the Unite8 Sports television network.
Those who prefer streaming can catch every match live on the FanCode app and website.
India squad for Zimbabwe T20I series
India: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Ravi Bishnoi.
Zimbabwe squad
Sikandar Raza (Captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Clive Madande (WK), Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri and Milton Shumba.
What happened the last time India and Zimbabwe met?
India and Zimbabwe last faced each other in a T20I during the Super Eight stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup. India produced a dominant all-round display, posting a massive 256/4 before bowling Zimbabwe out to register a convincing 72-run victory.
That result extended India’s strong record against Zimbabwe in the shortest format, but the hosts will hope to make better use of home conditions this time around.
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Why this series matters
Although it is only a three-match bilateral series, the Zimbabwe tour could shape India’s T20 plans for the months ahead. Young players like Harsh Dubey, Prabhsimran Singh, Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur have a chance to impress the selectors, while experienced names such as Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Ravi Bishnoi will look to strengthen their claims ahead of upcoming international assignments.
With both teams aiming to build momentum, fans can expect three competitive matches in Harare.
