Harare, July 8: The five-match T20I series between India and hosts Zimbabwe is levelled at 1-1.
As both sides gear up for the third T20I on Wednesday, Team India will be bolstered by arrival of T20 World Cup 2024 winning team members Sanju Samson and Yashaasvi Jaiswal.
Interestingly, both Jaiswal and Samson play for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the last couple of seasons, with Samoson leading the side.
Since both Jaiswal and Samson are top order batters, Shubman Gill led Team India is likely to have a pleasant selection headache due to availability of plenty of top order batsmen..
After being outplayed in the first T20I, India bounced back well in the second match on Sunday with a 100-run win over Zimbabwe. Young opener Abhishek Sharma hit a hurricane 47-ball 100 on a winning cause.
With Gill, Jaiswal, Abhishek, Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag and B Sai Sudharshan all in contention for a place in the XI as batters, Indian team management is likely to be in a situation, whom to pick and whom to leave out.
Since all these youngsters have performed well in the Indian Premier League 2024 recently and in domestic/international matches, so picking up a few of them may be bit tricky, feel cricket experts and fans.
However, considering Team India's recent track records, in all probability, the visitors would be desperate to win the series first comfortably.
Since they have conceded the first match and had to regroup well to clinch a win the second T20I, so winning the series is likely to be their top most priority.
After a series win, they may try to test their bench strength to provide youngsters some opportunity to showcase their talents and gain international match experience as well.
But for the Indian team management in Zimbabwe is likely to face a selection headache with too many potential contenders vying for a few berths in the playing XI.
