Riyan Parag, the talented cricketer hailing from Assam, couldn't contain his excitement upon receiving his first call-up to the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. His elation was so immense that he temporarily misplaced his passport and phone. The Indian squad touched down in Harare on July 3, with Parag and other young players all set for the series commencing on July 6.
In a heartfelt video shared by the BCCI, Parag shared his joy and anticipation for the tour, fulfilling his childhood dream of representing India and donning the national colours. He highlighted the mix of new and familiar faces in the squad, noting that despite the newer players, he has previously played alongside many of his teammates.
Excited for his debut in Zimbabwe, Parag expressed his special connection with the country, stressing the significance of the moment for him. He also discussed the excitement surrounding the new team composition and his preparedness to play alongside both old and new faces.
Led by Shubman Gill, the Indian team arrived in Zimbabwe early on Wednesday morning, with some last-minute changes to the squad. Players like Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal were replaced by Harshit Rana, Sai Sudharsan, and Jitesh Sharma due to delayed arrivals. All matches of the series are set to take place in Harare.
The squad for the series comprises Shubman Gill as Captain, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel as wicketkeeper, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma as wicketkeeper, and Harshit Rana.