ZIMBABWE T20I captain Sikandar Raza has refused to be vowed into submission by the World Cup champions when they take to the field on Saturday in the five-match T20I series opener at Harare Sports Club.
The all-rounder declared that it will be an open-ended series which can go either side given the two countries’ similar rebuilding phases.
Raza acknowledged the challenge of facing a formidable Indian side. However, he remained confident that his side could spring an upset against the World Champions.
“Both teams have an equal chance. The battle is always against the bat and ball, never against any particular individual,” Raza said during the pre-series media conference at Harare Sports Club on Friday afternoon.
“Once you go out on the park, you start from scratch. Irrespective of how many runs or wickets you have, each team has a chance against any team.”
Despite their recent mixed performance, including a recent series loss to Bangladesh in May, Zimbabwe has shown flashes of brilliance. Notably, in the 2022 T20 World Cup, they defeated teams such as Ireland, West Indies, and Scotland.
The series promises to be an exciting one, with Zimbabwe aiming to take advantage of playing at home while the Indian young lineup would want to stake a claim in the substantive senior men’s squad.
Raza’s camaraderie with Indian players from his IPL experiences adds an interesting subplot to the series.
The young Indian T20I team, captained by 24-year-old Shubman Gill, is full of confidence after their successful ICC T20 World Cup campaign in June.
The Indian team’s recent dominance in white-ball cricket is well-documented, with the Men in Blue topping the ICC rankings in both ODIs and T20Is.
India won the T20 World Cup titles in 2007, 2014, and most recently in 2024, establishing themselves as a dominant force in T20 cricket.
They currently hold the top position in the ICC T20I and ODI rankings and are placed second in Tests, trailing only Australia.
Gill, leading the senior team for the first time in an international series, stressed the importance of developing young talent.
“Our aim for the series is to give the players experience and exposure at the international level,” Gill said.
“There are a lot of young players in the team, including myself, and it’s about preparing them mentally to deliver their skill set on the field.”
