Shubman Gill, who is the Indian captain for the five-match T20I series tour of Zimbabwe, revealed the team's likely top order for the first T20I starting on Saturday, July 6.
After the retirements of superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the format, following their historic win at the T20 World Cup 2024, Team India is on the hunt for their next generation of opening batters.
The next edition of the T20 World Cup will be played in 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. This will be the team's first match in the process of preparation for that ICC tournament, two years later.
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Who will open for Team India alongside Shubman Gill in the T20I series against Zimbabwe?
Shubman Gill was speaking to reporters at a press conference ahead of the first T20I against Zimbabwe, at Harare, where he confirmed that he will opening the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma, who will be making his international debut for the senior team.
He also revealed that the other opening-batter in the squad, Ruturaj Gaikwad, will bat at Number 3, this series.
"I think Rohit Bhai was an opener and Virat Bhai also opened in this World Cup. I have also opened in T20s. So, I think I will want to open in T20Is. Abhishek Sharma will open with me, and Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at No.3 position," Gill said.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal who was set for play in this series, has been rested for the first two matches as he had been travelling with the World Cup-winning squad, and was also part of the long open-parade in Mumbai.
Further, he stated that he will look to build upon the legacy of the Rohit-Kohli duo, saying that each player has their own set of goals for their game, and accepted that there will be pressure to perform following the country's historic T20 World Cup victory.
"Pressure and expectations will always remain. But what Virat Bhai and Rohit Bhai have achieved, if I look to achieve that or reach that, it will be very difficult for me. Every player has his own goal, that he wants to reach. That is the pressure. If you want to reach where other people have reached, then you have more pressure," he added.
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