Harare — Shreyas Iyer will aim to get his first win as India’s T20I captain when a young Indian team faces Zimbabwe in the first match of the 3-match series on Thursday at Harare Sports Club. Iyer has led India in 7 T20Is so far and won only 1, with series losses to Ireland and England. This series gives him a chance to turn things around. Team News & Key Players India are favorites on paper, but another loss could put pressure on this inexperienced squad that also features 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. With VVS Laxman as stand-in head coach, India’s approach could look different from Gautam Gambhir’s tenure. Laxman is known for backing players and making fewer changes. Batting order update: Sooryavanshi is expected to open with Abhishek Sharma. Sanju Samson has been left out. Both openers have good memories at Harare. Abhishek scored his first T20I century here, while Sooryavanshi hit a hundred in the U-19 World Cup final at this ground earlier this year. Bowling concerns: Zimbabwe’s fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava could take advantage of the pitch conditions. For India, selection calls remain around Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh and the all-rounder spots. The third pacer’s slot is likely to be a fight between Ashok Sharma, Yash Thakur, Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav. Teams India: Shreyas Iyer (c), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Harsh Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Yash Thakur, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Prabhsimran Singh, Rinku Singh Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Milton Shumba, Tafadzwa Tsiga Post navigation International Chess Day: The Game of Mind and Strategy
