23 July,2026 05:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sikandar Raza, Shreyas Iyer (Pic: X/@BCCI)
In the first T20I against Zimbabwe, Team India's skipper Shreyas Iyer has won the toss and elected to bowl at the Harare Sports Club.
The "Men in Blue" will enter the clash on the back of two consecutive series defeats against Ireland and England. They will be eager to bounce back and secure a win against Zimbabwe. Ashok Sharma will make his T20I debut for Team India.
After winning the toss, Team India's skipper Iyer said, "We are going to bowl first. This is my first time here, so I don't know how the wicket is going to play. But looking at the practice wickets and the practice wickets on the side, there was a decent amount of bounce. So definitely, that's one of the aspects. [On if there will be bounce on offer] I don't know how it's going to play, but anticipating it".
Speaking about Zimbabwe, he said that the hosts' batsmen and bowlers execute their plans well, which was pleasing to see during the concluded T20 World Cup 2026.
"Absolutely, they've been playing brilliantly for the last couple of years, especially at the World Cup, the way they played. It was pleasing to the eye. The batsmen and the bowlers executing their strengths. It was amazing. [On the team composition] We're going with three seamers, one spinner," said the Mumbai-born cricketer.
On the other hand, Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza said, "This is not your typical Harare Sports Club wicket, I think. There will be something in the start, but I don't expect it to last too long. I think there are a lot of runs on this wicket and hopefully we can put up those runs on the board".
Later, despite the T20I series loss against Bangladesh, Raza said that there were a lot of positives and is also hopeful of middle-order batsmen contributing against Team India.
"A lot of positives, to be honest, you know. And as I said, in the pressure as well, even though the results didn't go our way, but there were a lot of positives, especially the way the bowling unit has been holding themselves as well. Also in Bulawayo, on a slightly slower surface, I thought our top three batters did contribute the bulk of the runs as well. So hopefully the lower order and the middle order can contribute, can try and put up those runs and the bowling unit keep leading the way they are leading. And I'm pretty sure it will be a very good game after that. [On the team composition] The four seamers and a spinner. Nyamhuri comes back making his T20I debut and long-awaited, but Ben Curran is also making his debut," he said.
India: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tiak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav.
Zimbabwe: Briant Bennett, Ben Curran, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Wesley Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani (WK), Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
