India Squad for Zimbabwe T20Is Announced: Sanju Samson Dropped, 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Retained
The BCCI has announced India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. Sanju Samson has been left out, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi keeps his place after making his international debut. Several fresh faces have also earned maiden call-ups as India continues to build for the future.
July 06, 2026: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The announcement has sparked plenty of discussion among fans, with one of the biggest talking points being the exclusion of Sanju Samson. In his place, 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has retained his place in the squad after recently making his international debut.
Following the conclusion of the ongoing five-match T20I series against England, Team India will travel to Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series. All three matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club on July 23, July 25, and July 26. The selectors have once again opted to give opportunities to several young players while also bringing back a few familiar faces as India continues to build its squad ahead of future international assignments.
Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, while Tilak Varma has been named the vice-captain. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has returned to the T20I setup, while Shivam Dube has also earned a place in the squad. Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy have made their comebacks after missing recent matches, adding more experience to an otherwise youthful squad.
The Zimbabwe tour has also opened the door for several exciting young players. Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, and Prabhsimran Singh have received their maiden India call-ups after consistent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. Harsh Dubey, who recently earned his first India selection, has retained his place and will look to make a strong impression if given an opportunity.
Another major talking point is the return of fast bowler Mayank Yadav. The express pacer has struggled with injuries over the last two years despite impressing everyone with his pace in the IPL. Now fully fit, Mayank has another opportunity to establish himself at the international level. Prince Yadav has also continued to receive the selectors' backing after earning his maiden call-up recently.
🚨 News 🚨#TeamIndia squad announced for the 3️⃣-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 6, 2026
More Details ▶️ https://t.co/sC19D5eW8y#ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/ctbM5gFMtY
The biggest surprise in the squad, however, is the omission of Sanju Samson. The wicketkeeper-batter was part of India's squad for the T20I series against England and had also featured during the Ireland series. However, after playing in the opening matches, Samson lost his place in the playing XI when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his debut in the second T20I against England. Now, the selectors have taken another big decision by leaving Samson out of the Zimbabwe squad altogether.
Apart from Samson, several players who were part of the England T20I squad have also been left out. Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, and Mohammed Siraj have not been included in the squad. Siraj had earlier been rested from the England series due to workload management. However, the BCCI has not provided any official reason behind the exclusion of the other players for the Zimbabwe tour.
All eyes will be on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Although India have included several new faces in the squad, much of the attention will be on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenage sensation did not get a chance to play during the T20I series against Ireland. He finally received his India cap in the second T20I against England, where he scored 14 runs off just 10 balls. While it was only a brief innings, the youngster showed positive intent and looked comfortable on the international stage.
Vaibhav will now head to Zimbabwe with plenty of confidence after enjoying a dream IPL 2026 season. The left-handed batter finished the tournament with 776 runs, making him the highest run-scorer of the season. His remarkable campaign also helped him become the youngest player in IPL history to win the Orange Cap, adding another milestone to his rapidly growing career.
The selectors clearly see Vaibhav as one of India's brightest young talents. By retaining him in the squad despite limited international experience, they have shown faith in his ability and long-term potential. The Zimbabwe series could provide him with more opportunities to settle into international cricket and gain valuable experience against a different opposition.
The series is also expected to serve as an important platform for India's next generation of cricketers. With Zimbabwe considered a comparatively less challenging opponent, the team management may use the three matches to test young players under international conditions. Performances in this series could play a key role in shaping India's T20 plans over the coming months.
India will be hoping to continue their strong performances in the shortest format when they take the field in Harare. While experienced names like Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh will be expected to guide the side, the spotlight is likely to remain on the youngsters, especially Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has already shown that he has the talent to become one of Indian cricket's biggest stars in the years ahead.
India's squad for the Zimbabwe T20I series: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakravarthy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, and Prabhsimran Singh (WK).
