India’s star batter Shubman Gill is set to lead the Blues in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe which starts on Saturday and will look to carry the legacy of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the shortest format of the game.
Kohli and Sharma retired from T20Is after India lifted the T20 World Cup 2024 in Bridgetown and Gill already acknowledges that it will be a difficult job as the two have achieved much in the sport.
“Pressure and expectations are always there. But I think what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have achieved, if I go after achieving or reaching it then it will be difficult. Every player has his individual goals where he wants to reach so that pressure itself is there. And if you’re looking to reach where someone has already achieved then you’re under even more pressure,” said Gill in the pre-match press conference.
“Obviously, pressure is there, but what they’ve achieved what they’ve done for India, there’s no pressure on that front as they’re both my idols and legend of Indian cricket. But what we want to collectively achieve as a team, the pressure is always there for that,” he added.
India vs Zimbabwe T20I series squads
India: Ꮪhubman 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.
First two T20Is: Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Antum Naqvi, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba.
All matches of the bilateral series will be contested at the Harare Sports Club.
India vs Zimbabwe T20I series schedule:
1st T20I — July 6
2nd T20I — July 7
3rd T20I — July 10
4th T20I — July 13
5th T20I — July 14
- Shubman Gill
