Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Set for T20I Comeback Against Zimbabwe

Indian Squad Prepares for T20I Series

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is poised for another opportunity to showcase his skills in the Indian cricket team after being dropped following just three matches in the recent five-match series against England. He will be part of the lineup for the first T20I against Zimbabwe, scheduled for Thursday (July 23) at Harare Sports Club, especially after Sanju Samson was removed from the 15-member squad. Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma are expected to open the batting for India.

Ishan Kishan aims to bounce back after a disappointing tour of the UK, while Shreyas Iyer seeks his first victory as captain, having faced a challenging start with six losses in his first seven matches (including one washout). Kishan and Iyer will bat at the third and fourth positions, respectively.

Vice-captain Tilak Varma, who also struggled during the recent defeats in Ireland and England, is likely to maintain his position at number five, with Shivam Dube slated to bat at number six. Rinku Singh is making a return to the squad after being sidelined during the 2026 T20 World Cup and missing the UK tour.

While the batting lineup remains consistent with recent games, the bowling attack features several new faces. Harsh Dubey is set to make his T20I debut, and Mayank Yadav will return to the team after nearly two years due to injury. Prince Yadav will also look to continue his impressive form. This setup may allow for one debutant between Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur, unless India opts for a specialist spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, who was added as an injury replacement.

Projected Indian XI Against Zimbabwe: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma (VC), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma/Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav.