3 players unlucky to miss out on India's squad for ZIM vs IND 2026 T20I series ft. Rasikh Salam

× Team India's 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe was announced on Monday, July 6. The series is scheduled to begin on July 23, with the remaining two matches to be played on July 25 and July 26. All three fixtures will be held at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.

Ad Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, while Tilak Varma will continue as his deputy. The squad also features a few new faces, with Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, and Prabhsimran Singh earning their maiden call-ups. Meanwhile, Rinku Singh and Mayank Yadav have returned to the side.

India's squad for the T20I series against Zimbabwe: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, and Prabhsimran Singh (wk). Ad Trending However, despite including several young players, a few cricketers who impressed in IPL 2026 and domestic cricket failed to earn a place in the squad. On that note, here's a look at three players who were unlucky to miss out on India's squad for the Zimbabwe tour.

#1 Rajat Patidar Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Rajat Patidar has once again been overlooked for India’s T20I squad despite his impressive run of form in recent times. During IPL 2026, the middle-order batter delivered a standout campaign, scoring 501 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.

69, including five half-centuries. Ad Additionally, with several left-handed batters in the squad, Patidar's right-handed presence and proven ability to take on spinners could have made him a valuable option. Overall, in 113 T20 matches, the 33-year-old has amassed 3,389 runs at an average of 35.

30 and a strike rate of 160.81, with 31 fifties and one century to his name. However, he is yet to make his international debut in the shortest format.

#2 Rasikh Salam Another player who impressed during IPL 2026 but missed out on a place in India’s squad for the Zimbabwe tour is RCB and Jammu & Kashmir pacer Rasikh Salam. The 26-year-old played a crucial role in helping Rajat Patidar’s side retain the title. In 12 matches, Rasikh claimed 19 wickets at an average of 21.

31, a strike rate of 13.5, and an economy rate of 9.45, with his best figures being 4/24.

Ad In his overall T20 career, the pacer has picked up 69 wickets in 54 matches at an economy rate of 8.70, including a five-wicket haul. With India opting for a fresh-look pace attack for the Zimbabwe series, Rasikh’s exclusion came as a surprise given his impressive performances in recent times.

#3 Gurnoor Brar The final player on the list is Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar. The 26-year-old impressed for the Men in Blue during his debut ODI series against Afghanistan last month, claiming seven wickets in three matches at an average of 19.42, a strike rate of 19.

5, and an economy rate of 5.95.More recently, he continued his impressive form in the red-ball format for India A against Sri Lanka A, picking up 10 wickets across two innings, including a six-wicket haul, to help his side register a 10-wicket victory.

However, despite his excellent form across formats, the pacer found himself out of favour for the T20I squad. × Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda.

Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Dev Sharma Team India's 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe was announced on Monday, July 6. The series is scheduled to begin on July 23, with the remaining two matches to be played on July 25 and July 26. All three fixtures will be held at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.

Ad Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, while Tilak Varma will continue as his deputy. The squad also features a few new faces, with Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, and Prabhsimran Singh earning their maiden call-ups. Meanwhile, Rinku Singh and Mayank Yadav have returned to the side.

India's squad for the T20I series against Zimbabwe: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, and Prabhsimran Singh (wk). Ad Trending However, despite including several young players, a few cricketers who impressed in IPL 2026 and domestic cricket failed to earn a place in the squad. On that note, here's a look at three players who were unlucky to miss out on India's squad for the Zimbabwe tour.

#1 Rajat Patidar Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Rajat Patidar has once again been overlooked for India’s T20I squad despite his impressive run of form in recent times. During IPL 2026, the middle-order batter delivered a standout campaign, scoring 501 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.75 and a