Riyan Parag Among 7 IPL Stars Set for India Debut in Zimbabwe T20Is; Rohit, Kohli Likely to Shift Focus

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir is set to take over as the next head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, with his first assignment likely to be a T20I series against Zimbabwe beginning on July 5.

Gambhir is expected to lead a fresh T20I squad, drawing heavily from standout performers of IPL 2024.

Several promising young players currently training at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru are in contention for selection. Riyan Parag, the top run-scorer among uncapped players in IPL 2024, and Harshit Rana, the leading bowler in the same category, are among those being considered.

Notably, senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are likely to opt out of the Zimbabwe T20Is to focus on ODIs and Tests, as part of their strategic planning for the upcoming season, which includes nine WTC Tests from September 2024 to January 2025.

While established names such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav are unlikely to feature in the Zimbabwe series due to their continuous play since the IPL, younger talents like Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed are expected to be part of the touring squad.

Gambhir’s appointment marks a new chapter for Indian cricket, with expectations high for both the team’s performance in Zimbabwe and the development of young talents under his guidance.