Following his side’s series win against Zimbabwe, Indian all-rounder Riyan Parag, who made his international debut in this series, said that it was special making his first appearance in Indian colours along with under-19 teammate Abhishek Sharma and lauded skipper Shubman Gill for his leadership skills throughout the five-match affair. A fine four-wicket spell by Mukesh Kumar and a half-century by Sanju Samson were the highlights as India defeated Zimbabwe by 42 runs in the fifth and final T20I at Harare to secure the series on Sunday.

Speaking after the game in the post-match presentation, Parag said that everyone “woke up” after a loss in the first game. He also said that he and Abhishek, both teammates from the 2018 U19 World Cup, opened their jerseys from the packaging together when they got it.

“We opened our jerseys together. I went to his room, he opened it first and then I did. We played the 2018 World Cup together and for the next 6 years we did not play, now we are playing. Doing it with him was pretty special,” said Parag.

On his partnership with Rajasthan Royals (RR) teammate Sanju Samson, Parag said that he had a talk with the wicketkeeper-batter about having a partnership like they used to have while batting for RR together at numbers three and four, respectively.

“Once we had wickets in the end, we could go big and it was a tricky wicket, glad we could do well,” he added.

On playing with skipper Gill, Parag said that it was nice playing under Gill, who has been playing with him since he was in under-16 cricket.

“He has been like a captain, even when he was not captain. In the field, he has been exceptional,” he added.

Parag did not have a memorable debut though, coming after scoring 573 runs in 16 matches in the IPL 2024 for RR. He could score just 24 runs in two innings and did not get any wicket.

India has won the series 4-1.

Coming to the match, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first. They had India at 40/3 at one point until a 65-run partnership between Sanju Samson (58 in 45 balls, with a four and four sixes) and Riyan Parag (22 in 24 balls, with a six) and a fine cameo from Shivam Dube (26 in 12 balls, with two fours and two sixes) took India to 167/6 in their 20 overs.

Blessing Muzarbani (2/19) was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe. Richard Ngarva, Sikandar Raza, and Brandon Mavuta also got a wicket each.

In the run-chase, Zimbabwe had a fine start and was in the game for a good amount of time, until Shivam Dube (2/25) delivered a game-changing spell and a quick run-out of Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza. Dion Myers (34 in 32 balls, with four boundaries and a six), Tadiwanashe Marumani (27 in 24 balls, with five fours) and Faraz Akram (27 in 13 balls, with two fours and two sixes) put up a fight for Zimbabwe, but Mukesh Kumar (4/22) cleaned up the tail.

Zimbabwe was bundled out for 125 runs, losing by 42 runs with nine balls left.

Shivam secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his all-round performance. Washington Sundar, who scored 28 runs in two innings with the best score of 27 and took eight wickets in the series, was given the ‘Player of the Series’ award.

India vs Zimbabwe Live Streaming 2nd T20I Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch Match Live© Instagram

India’s 13-run defeat to 12th-ranked Zimbabwe came after the young Indian batting lineup collapsed and were bowled out for just 102 runs. Captain Shubman Gill and Washington Sundar were the only two batters to score more than 20 runs, as the entire middle order failed to fire. From debutants Abhishek Sharma and Riyan Parag to first team hopefuls Rinku Singh and Ruturaj Gaikwad, it was a day to forget for Team India. Parag and Rinku, in particular, faced a lot of backlash from unhappy fans on social media.

Riyan Parag – who became the first player of Assam and north-eastern India to play for Team India – did not have the best debut, making just 2 runs in 3 balls. Rinku made even less, getting out for a two-ball duck.

Recently, Riyan Parag had made a statement that he does not like to watch the T20 World Cup as he’d rather play in it. Fans attacked the statement as Parag faltered in his first India innings.

On the other hand, Rinku had narrowly missed out on India’s 15-member T20 World Cup 2024 squad, as India favoured Shivam Dube and extra spinners. Hoping to impress in the Zimbabwe tour, Rinku, who has had a short but successful T20 career so far, failed to fire and take India to victory.

India have picked a host of debutants and youngsters in their squad for the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. With most of the T20 World Cup squad rested, the side is being led by Shubman Gill, who is making his captaincy debut for India.

Earlier, India had restricted Zimbabwe to just 115, courtesy of Ravi Bishnoi‘s 4/13. However, Zimbabwe, who had failed to qualify for the 20-team T20 World Cup altogether, put up an inspired bowling performance to bundle India out for just 102 in Harare.

Our very own once the academy topper from IPL batch, Riyan Parag started his international on high notes pic.twitter.com/CTMGS4TicJ

— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) July 6, 2024

Riyan Parag is officially a meme material #INDvsZIM pic.twitter.com/JOydP7EsPl

— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) July 6, 2024

“Play Rinku Singh in WC”

“Get Shivam Dube a niggle”

Rinku shut down all critics with his batting show today pic.twitter.com/UBpuq3K5H2

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) July 6, 2024

Common knowledge

Shivam Dube >>> Rinku Singh pic.twitter.com/640f6Qg4h4

— (@Shivayaaah) July 6, 2024

Team India’s youngsters would look to turnaround their fortunes as the two teams square off in the second match of the series on Sunday.

Receiving the iconic blue Team India cap for the first time is an honour very few get to experience. But the moment was made even more special for Riyan Parag, as he was presented his first India cap by his own father, before making his debut in India’s first T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare. Riyan Parag’s father, Parag Das, is a former first class cricketer for Assam. Riyan also became the first-ever player from Assam to play for the Indian cricket team.

Parag finished as the third-highest run-scorer in IPL 2024, with 573 runs for the Rajasthan Royals, who finished third. His tremendous season, batting at no. 4, made it impossible for the selectors to ignore him, as a young India squad was picked for the five-match T20I tour to Zimbabwe.

Watch: Riyan Parag receives his debut India cap from his father

A son’s dream takes flight, and a father’s heart swells with pride! Riyan Parag, you’ve made Assam proud!

And what makes it even more special is receiving his Cap from the person who inspired him the most – his father!#TeamIndia #ZIMvIND #RiyanParag pic.twitter.com/PedtOTn3Z7

— Assam Cricket Association (@assamcric) July 6, 2024

Parag wasn’t the only one to make his debut in the first T20I, as Abhishek Sharma and Rajasthan Royals teammate Dhruv Jurel also received their first T20I caps.

Parag will have to make a stellar impression in the Zimbabwe series to remain a fixture in India’s T20I setup. This is because the world’s no.2-ranked batsman Suryakumar Yadav currently holds the no. 4 spot in India’s batting lineup in the shortest format.

India vs Zimbabwe

This is India’s first series after their historic 2024 T20 World Cup victory in the Caribbean and USA. After the tournament, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20Is, leaving the door open for youngsters to stake a claim as a regular part of India’s T20I XI.

Shubman Gill will be captaining Team India for the first time. It’s his first taste of international captaincy, having already become Gujarat Titans’ captain ahead of IPL 2024.

Three players from India’s T20 World Cup-winning team also feature in the Zimbabwe tour squad: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube.

India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl against Zimbabwe in the first T20I of a five-match series in Harare on Saturday. Ahead of his captaincy debut, Gill had confirmed on the eve of the match that Abhishek Sharma will make his debut and open the innings with him. Apart from Abhishek, IPL stars Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel were also handed their debuts by the Indian team. Gill is leading the team in the absence of captain Rohit Sharma, who retired from the format after the T20 World Cup, while vice-captain Hardik Pandya has been rested.

Star India batter Virat Kohli also announced his T20I retirement after the final, suggesting that it’s time for the new generation to take over.

On being asked if there’s any pressure on him after Kohli’s remark, Gill said at the toss: ” Don’t feel pressure, you have expectations but from yourself, not from outside.”

“We want to have a look at the target and have the runs on the board. World Cup has been long coming, winning after 11 years. Very satisfied, hope many more to come. Three debutants: Abhishek, Riyan, Jurel,” Gill said at the toss in Harare.

Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza said during the time of the toss, “I don’t mind batting first. The wicket looks good. Zimbabwe Cricket has trusted me with this transition phase. I look for young boys to come out and fight. It is humbling to lead this bunch. Sean has retired. It is a young side. Ervine will have a role in the future.”

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (w), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Tadiwanashe Marumani, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza(c), Dion Myers, Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande(w), Wessly Madhevere, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara.

(With ANI Inputs)

Shubman Gill will be leading India against Zimbabwe© X (Twitter)

After clinching the T20 World Cup 2024 title, Team India is all set to face Zimbabwe for a five-match t20I series, starting from July 6. A young team has been sent to face Sikandar Raza and co as the Indian side is looking groom new players for the shortest format, after the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. The team will be led by the opening batter Shubman Gill with Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Tushar Deshpande earning the maiden India call-ups.

The new-look Indian team arrived in Harare on Wednesday and the likes of Riyan, Deshpande, and others completely failed to hide their excitement of representing the nation.

Parag, who bossed the IPL with his batting and emerged as the third-highest run-getter with 573 runs in 16 matches, including four half-centuries, hilariously said that he feels so excited about playing for India that he misplaced his passport and two phones.

“So excited that I’ve forgotten my passport. I’ve forgotten my phone. I’ve not forgotten, I’ve misplaced them. But I have it now,” Parag, who has earned his maiden India call-up, said in a video posted by BCCI.

Travel Day

The Journey Begins…

Excitement, happiness & more, ft. #TeamIndia newcomers#ZIMvIND | @ParagRiyan | @IamAbhiSharma4 pic.twitter.com/YdhK5jldtW

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 3, 2024

“Ever since I was a kid, it was a dream to travel like this. Though we play matches, but traveling, wearing Indian clothes, is a dream. It is a new team, almost, a lot of new and old faces. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamt of it. There will be a special connection with Zimbabwe,” he added.

Apart from him, batter Abhishek Sharma also revealed that after his selection in the Indian team, he received a call from his Punjab teammate Shubman Gill.

“I received a call from Gill after the selection, I felt very good. Before my interview, when I reached home, my parents were giving interviews. I felt proud. Ever since I started from day one, I had the dream of playing for India. I knew if I kept working hard I would get an opportunity but did not know I would go outside India, to Zimbabwe. This feels like a reunion,” said Abhishek.

BCCI on Tuesday announced the addition of opener Sai Sudarshan, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma and pacer Harshit Rana as replacements for Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe, as the T20 World Cup winning players’ departure was delayed from Barbados due to Hurrican Beryl, making them unavailable for the initial games.

India’s squad for 1st & 2nd T20I: Shubman Gill (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Harshit Rana.

(With ANI Inputs)

On the back of a breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag has been rewarded with an India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. Parag was the third-highest run-scorer in IPL 2024 with 573 runs in 16 matches. In spite of discussions regarding his selection for the T20 World Cup, Parag did not find a place in the squad of the tournament, which India won after beating South Africa in the final.

After being ignored by the selectors, Parag had claimed that he will not watch the World Cup, saying that he would only like to play in one.

“I’m actually not going to watch. I will only watch the final. I don’t want to watch cricket anymore because I want to play the World Cup. I think it’s a good feeling. I want to play the World Cup, play for the country. Once I see these people, I get motivated. But then, I feel could’ve done something else. If I see the India jersey and cricket kit, I feel like I want to do something. I feel like I’m lacking something and just wanna go out there and smash some balls,” Parag had said during a chat on TRS Podcast.

However, after his selection in the squad for the Zimbabwe series, former India pacer S Sreesanth has slammed the youngster for his remarks.

“Some youngsters have also said that they will not watch the world cup because they have not been selected.I would say that first you should be patriotic then you should be a Cricket lover. I would say that first you should be patriotic, then yes, you should be a cricket lover. But those who have selected the team, they should be supported with all their heart, mind and passion,” Sreesanth said on Star Sports.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill will be leading the Indian cricket team in the absence of Rohit Sharma for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. The team travelled to Zimbabwe right after the T20 World Cup 2024 where they will play 5 T20I encounters between July 6-14.

India’s squad for T20I series against Zimbabwe: Ꮪhubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande. 

A young-Indian cricket team under National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman left for Zimbabwe to play a five-match T20I series starting in Harare on July 6. The team will be led by Shubman Gill while the likes of youngsters Riyan Parag and Abhishek Sharma have been rewarded for their exploits in the last IPL with maiden India call-ups. Skipper Gill, the reserve opener for the T20 World Cup, was on a break and will link up with the Zimbabwe-bound squad directly in Harare from the US.

The BCCI took to X to post pictures of those who boarded the flight, which includes Sharma, Parag, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Tushar Deshpande and NCA head Laxman.

Five members of the squad — Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh and Khaleel Ahmed were either part of the T20 World Cup-winning team or were travelling reserves are stranded in Barbados due to hurricane Beryl. They will join the squad later.

With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retiring form the shortest format of the game, the T20 series against Zimbabwe will provide the youngsters with the perfect opportunity to cement their places in the team for future series.

Jet

Set

Zimbabwe #TeamIndia | #ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/q3sFz639z7

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 1, 2024

pic.twitter.com/todNGWOyxM

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 1, 2024

India’s squad for T20I series against Zimbabwe: Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande.