IND vs ZIM 2nd T20I: Sai Sudharsan Makes Debut as India Opt to Bat First Against Zimbabwe in Harare

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B Sai Sudharsan becomes fourth player to make T20 international debut in the series as India skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and selected to bat first against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Sunday (July 7).

A day after Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel featured in their first T20I, Sai Sudharsan, who has already represented the senior team in One Day Internationals, earns his first appearance in the shortest format on the international stage as India look to bounce back from a humilaiting loss.

The Tamil Nadu player earns his cap after a consistent performances in the last two editions of IPL for Gujarat Titans, scoring 527 runs, including a century, in 12 innings striking at 141.29 in the recent season.

Overall in 43 T20 matches, Sai Sudharsan has scored 1503 runs including a hundred and 8 fifties, striking at 130.69. Coming in to replace a bowler in the playing 11, the 22-year-old is likely to bat in the middle order to strengthen the batting, which collapsed to 102 all out in the first T20I on Saturday (July 6).

Not wanting to bat under pressure of chasing a target on a tricky surface in Harare, Indian skipper Gill did not hesitate in having to set a target and then put pressure on Zimbabwe with his spin options.

"Going to bat first, same wicket like yesterday. The best opportunity for us to bat. Looks dry, it's a nice sunny day. Need to improve our batting, Sudharsan comes in for Khaleel," Gill said after winning the toss.

Zimbabwe skipper Raza, who played a key role with the ball in the team's series opening win, said that the wicket would get better in the evening and added that if he had won the toss, he would have elected to bowl first.

"Looks like a summer wicket, the pitch will get better. We wanted to bowl first anyway. The changing room is relaxed and happy. Taking one game at a time, we are here for a reason, will try to get our job done. Blessing has been good, Chatara delivers for us. He has come right more often than not for the team," Raza said.

India vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20I Playing 11

India XI: Shubman Gill (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.

Zimbabwe XI: Wessly Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (captain), Dion Myers, Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande (wicketkeeper), Wellington Masakadza, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara.