2026 ZIM vs IND 1st T20I Playing 11: Sikandar Raza-led Zimbabwe will square off against Shreyas Iyer-led India in the 1st T20I match on July 23 at Harare Sports Club, Harare.
The Men in Blues come from consecutive series defeats against Ireland and England. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe also suffered a series defeat against Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe and India have met on 14 occasions, where the Men in Blues have 11 wins while the Chevrons have 3 wins.
India won the toss and opted to bowl. Speaking on the toss, India captain Shreyas Iyer said, “We are going to bowl first. This is my first time here, so I don’t know how the wicket is going to play. But looking at the practice wickets and the practice wickets on the side, there was a decent amount of bounce. So definitely, that’s one of the aspects.”
“I don’t know how it’s going to play, but anticipating it. Absolutely, they’ve been playing brilliantly for the last couple of years, especially at the World Cup, the way they played. It was pleasing to the eye. The batsmen and the bowlers executing their strengths. It was amazing,” said Shreyas Iyer.
While revealing today India Cricket Team playing 11, Iyer said, “We’re going with three seamers, one spinner.”
🚨 Toss and Team Update 🚨#TeamIndia elect to bowl in the 1st T20I against Zimbabwe
A look at our Playing XI 💪
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/NKa0znQQ3H#ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/w5wD1vCpV8
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2026
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said, “This is not your typical Harare Sports Club wicket, I think. There will be something in the start, but I don’t expect it to last too long. I think there are a lot of runs on this wicket and hopefully we can put up those runs on the board.”
“A lot of positives, to be honest, you know. And as I said, in the pressure as well, even though the results didn’t go our way, but there were a lot of positives, especially the way the bowling unit has been holding themselves as well. Also in Bulawayo, on a slightly slower surface, I thought our top three batters did contribute the bulk of the runs as well.”
“So hopefully the lower order and the middle order can contribute, can try and put up those runs and the bowling unit keep leading the way they are leading. And I’m pretty sure it will be a very good game after that,” said Raza.
While speaking on the today Zimbabwe playing 11, Raza said, “The four seamers and a spinner. Nyamhuri comes back making his T20I debut and long-awaited, but Ben Curran is also making his debut.”
2026 ZIM vs IND 1st T20I Playing 11
Zimbabwe playing 11: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani(w), Ben Curran, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza(c), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani
India Playing 11: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav
