India vs Zimbabwe 2026
India’s white-ball side is heading to Harare for a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, marking the next assignment on the team’s packed 2026 calendar. With several regulars rested and a batch of uncapped talent handed a shot at the highest level, this tour doubles as both a competitive series and an audition for India’s T20 bench strength.
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Series Schedule: India vs Zimbabwe
All three matches will be played at the same venue, the Harare Sports Club, with each game starting at 4:30 PM IST (11:00 AM GMT).
- 1st T20I – Thursday, July 23, 2026
- 2nd T20I – Saturday, July 25, 2026
- 3rd T20I – Sunday, July 26, 2026
Playing every match at one ground should suit a young Indian squad still finding its feet at this level, removing the guesswork of adjusting to new surfaces mid-series.
India’s Squad for the Zimbabwe Tour
Shreyas Iyer takes charge of the side as captain, with Tilak Varma serving as his deputy. The 15-man group blends senior campaigners with a handful of players yet to earn their maiden India cap.
Full squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh
Fresh Faces to Watch
Four players have been included in a senior India squad for the first time: wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, pacers Yash Thakur and Ashok Sharma, and left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey. All four will be eager to make an immediate impression given how competitive the race for white-ball slots has become.
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi has also been added to the squad as a late replacement, stepping in after Varun Chakravarthy was ruled out with a hamstring problem that had already forced him to sit out the closing games of India’s T20I series against England.
Elsewhere, pace bowler Mayank Yadav returns to the setup for the first time since late 2024, giving the management another x-factor option with the new ball, while Rinku Singh’s recall adds proven middle-order finishing ability to the mix.
The Notable Absentee
The squad announcement’s biggest story was arguably who didn’t make the cut. Sanju Samson has been left out entirely, despite being part of India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The wicketkeeper-batter has struggled for runs recently, and selectors have opted to look elsewhere for this tour. Along with Samson, regulars Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana — all involved in the recent England series — have also been rested for the trip to Zimbabwe.
What to Expect
With Iyer and Varma leading a side that mixes experience with fresh legs, this series gives India a chance to test depth ahead of a busy international calendar. For Zimbabwe, hosting a full-strength travelling squad from one of the game’s powerhouses is an opportunity to measure themselves against top-tier opposition on home soil.
Broadcast and Streaming Details
Fans in India can catch every match live on Zee’s Unite8 Sports network, with streaming available through the FanCode app and website.
All squad and schedule details are current as of late July 2026 and subject to change.
