ZIM vs IND: Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma, Harshit Rana added to squad for 1st 2 T20Is

Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana have been added to India’s squad for the first 2 T20Is against Zimbabwe as replacements for Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Dube, Samson and Jaiswal were all part of the Indian squad which won the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the Caribbean. However, the trio are currently stuck in Barbados after the final due to the threat from Hurricane Beryl.

With the Indian squad slated to arrive in Delhi on Wednesday, July 3, BCCI have now decided to send Sudharsan, Jitesh and Harshit as the replacements for the first 2 games in Harare. Dube,Samson and Jaiswal will be traveling back to India with the rest of the World Cup squad first and then depart for Harare.

“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana as replacements for Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe.”

“Originally slated to join the Zimbabwe-bound squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series starting Saturday, 6th July, the trio will travel to India first with the rest of the ICC T20 World Cup-winning Indian squad before departing for Harare,” read the statement from BCCI.

India’s squad for 1st & 2nd T20I against Zimbabwe:
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.

Sudharsan, Harshit in IPL 2024
Sudharsan and Harshit were in fine form during the IPL 2024 season. The TN batter scored 527 runs in 12 matches and Rana picked up 19 wickets in 13 matches and was the second-highest wicket-taker for KKR as they lifted the IPL 2024 title.

The main group of players and VVS Laxman had left for Harare on July 2. The first match will be played on July 6 and the series will go on until July 14.