Saikiran Uppuluri
Saikiran Uppuluri
The Indian cricket team will travel to Zimbabwe in July for a 5-match T20I series, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has confirmed. All matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club starting July 6, just days after the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani expressed delight at hosting India, calling it their biggest home attraction this year. He thanked BCCI for committing to tour Zimbabwe again during a rebuilding phase for the African nation.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah reiterated India’s commitment to supporting fellow cricket boards, especially Zimbabwe who need assistance at this juncture. The tour aligns with BCCI’s goal of making bilateral cricket globally stronger.
For Zimbabwe, this series represents a major opportunity to test themselves against a top side like India. The matches will be part of Zimbabwe’s preparations for the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA.
Their last T20I series against a major cricket nation was back in 2022 against Bangladesh. A contest against India will provide a stern examination of where they stand currently.
For India, the five T20Is will serve as valuable game time in the shortest format. The team has a packed calendar in 2024 with the ODI World Cupscheduled right after the T20 World Cup. The additional T20I series fits nicely between the two marquee ICC events.
Zimbabwe have been through turmoil in recent years, including a player strike and corruption allegations against their cricket board. However, they have managed to rebuild steadily after having their ICC suspension lifted in 2019.
India’s tour will be a welcome boost as they aim to get back to their best in international cricket. The T20I contests are likely to be competitive, but the Men in Blue will still start as overwhelming favorites.
An ODI series was also proposed alongside the T20Is, but scheduling challenges meant only the T20I leg could be finalized. Nevertheless, Zimbabwe will hope this tour sets the tone for more regular cricket against top teams going forward.
