The India cricket team has made two changes for the India vs Zimbabwe match in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. Playing at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Team India has made two changes.
Axar Patel & Sanju Samson in, Rinku Singh & Washington Sundar out
Axar Patel, India’s vice-captain, who was dropped against South Africa, has come back into the side for Washington Sundar. The latter was picked due to a match-up with the left-handed heavy top-order of the Proteas, but India has returned to Axar for the Zimbabwe match.
Sanju Samson, who played against Namibia, has returned to the side. Rinku Singh, who had left Chennai due to a family emergency but has returned and joined the team, won’t play today. Samson has been brought into the team for him and will keep wickets instead of Ishan Kishan.
“Two changes: Axar comes in for Washington, Samson comes in for Rinku. Sanju will keep,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav told Ravi Shastri after losing the toss and getting put in to bat first.
Some had suggested that India drop Abhishek Sharma for Samson due to non-performance. Despite Rinku’s availability, the management has decided to play them together. In fact, they’ll open with Ishan Kishan going to number three.
India Playing XI vs Zimbabwe
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Bench: Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar
