Zimbabwe cricket, once a rising force in the international arena, has faced its share of challenges. The team made its Test debut in 1992, achieving notable victories over Australia and Pakistan in the late ’90s. However, internal conflicts and the departure of key players led to a decline in performance. Despite these setbacks, Zimbabwe continues to produce talented cricketers, and the team remains a competitive force in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 cricket. With a renewed focus on development and a promising crop of young players, Zimbabwe cricket is poised for a resurgence on the global stage.

Antum Naqvi: A Possible Game Changer for T20I Series Against India

Naqvi, who recently became eligible to play for Zimbabwe, brings a unique flavor to the team. His cricketing journey began in Australia before he moved to Zimbabwe, where he made a significant impact by becoming the only player to score a triple-century in Zimbabwean domestic cricket. This achievement, coupled with his impressive performances, has earned him a spot in the squad.

The decision to include Naqvi in the team is seen as a strategic move by Zimbabwe’s cricketing authorities, aiming to surprise India with a player of diverse cricketing experience. This series will be a test of Naqvi’s adaptability and skill, as he faces the challenge of playing against a formidable Indian team fresh from their ICC T20 World Cup victory.

Familiar Returns Into the Squad.

The squad also sees the return of Dion Myers and the inclusion of senior pacer Chatara, while notable absentees include veteran players Ryan Burl and Craig Ervine. Sikandar Raza, a key player for Zimbabwe, will lead the team in this series, bringing his wealth of experience to the fore.

The series against India is a significant one for Zimbabwe, not only in terms of the competition but also in terms of setting the tone for future international engagements. With the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 on the horizon, Zimbabwe is keen on building a team that can compete at the highest level.

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As the series approaches, all eyes will be on Naqvi and how he integrates into the Zimbabwean team. His inclusion is a testament to Zimbabwe’s commitment to exploring new talent and strategies, as they look to make a mark on the international cricketing stage. The series against India will be a crucial test for the team, and fans are eager to see how this new-look Zimbabwean side fares against one of the cricketing giants.

Both the players will miss the upcoming series due to injuries they picked during the last T20 against West Indies in Kolkata.

Chahar has sustained a right quadriceps injury while bowling his second over in India’s last T20I fixture, and left the field after bowling 1.5 overs. Suryakumar, Player of the Series for the T20Is, was standing in the slips when he suffered a hairline fracture in his hand in the second innings after scoring a 31-ball 65 in the first innings.

Both the players will head to NCA camp in Bengaluru for their recovery

Although players picked up injury but the board has not yet announced any replacements. The Board did announced an 18 member squad which included returning Jadeja.

Chahar’s services won’t be missed much has the blue brigade has a lot of speeding Arsenal in their backyard. Likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel around won’t let India hurt.

Sanju Samson is most likely to be a solid middle order striker in the absence of Surya Kumar Yadav. Apart from injured players, Virat Kohli and Rishabh have been rested for the series.

The 1st T20 will be played on 24th Feb in Ekana Sports City, Lucknow. The cricket game will begin at 7:00 PM IST.

Updated squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt), Avesh Khan.

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Which cricketer are you looking forward to shine?

West Indies won the toss and opt to field first given the due factor. India batting first had a shaky start as they kept losing wickets at a regular Interval. Virat Kohli found his long-lost form and stabilized the innings along with Rishabh Panth and Venkatesh Iyer. Kohli played a fiery knock of 52 along with Rishabh pant and Venkatesh Iyer scoring 52 and 33 respectively.

A strong performance from the middle-order helped India post a fighting 186 for the loss of 5 wickets. West Indies Innings kicked off in the same fashion (losing quick wickets). They seem to be losing their grip when Powell and Pooran stitched the wounded batting lineup. Both the players played a reviving Innings to punch in some air in the game. Nicholas Pooran added 62 of 41 balls to spicy up the drama.

Death Overs Drama

Rovman Powell made sure to take the match to the final over. Until the 18th over the game swung like a pendulum till Pooran lost his wicket to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Everything boils down to the last 4 balls when they needed 23 of the remaining 4 balls. Rovman Powell slams back-to-back sixes off Harshal Patel in 2 consecutive deliveries. Patel mixed his pace which eventually left Powell scoring a mere single.

Needing 10 off the last ball, Pollard defends like a test shot to score a single as he gave a Shere example of a truce on a battlefield. India beat West Indies by 8 runs to win the 3 match series by 2-0. Rishabh Pant won the Man of the Match accolade for his scintillating performance of 52 runs off 28 balls. The 3rd and Final T20 will be played on 20th Feb in Eden Gardens.