team india Can appear in the upcoming three-match T20 series against zimbabwe With a strong reputation on paper, but their captain Sikandar Raza He believes the fight will be more competitive than many anticipated. Ahead of the opening match at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, the veteran all-rounder shared his thoughts on India being favourites.
Sikandar Raza talks about ‘India favourite’ tag ahead of T20I series
Speaking ahead of the series, Raza highlighted Zimbabwe’s recent progress in T20 cricket and expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete with one of the largest cricket-playing nations in the world. The Zimbabwe captain said both teams have an equal chance of winning the series, pointing to his team’s consistency and entertaining cricket over the past year. According to Raza, fans should expect an exciting contest rather than a one-sided contest.
“Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can definitely say that this series will be very entertaining.” Raza told Star Sports.
The three-match T20 series will be played entirely at the Harare Sports Club, with the remaining matches taking place on July 25 and July 26.
India wants change after tough foreign campaign
India are touring Zimbabwe hoping to put behind their disappointing performance in white ball cricket. The visitors endured a forgettable tour of the UK, losing the T20I series 2-0 ireland before being defeated 4–0 in Belfast. England In the five-match T20I series under the new captain Shreyas Iyer. His struggles continued in the ODI format as well Shubman GillThe team lost the three-match series to England 2-1, leaving India looking for momentum ahead of another overseas tour.
Although India’s recent performances have raised concerns, the team still has a lot of quality and experience in the T20 format. The upcoming series presents an opportunity for the visitors to gain confidence and build combinations ahead of future international assignments.
Also read: Tanzeed Hasan helps Bangladesh seal series win over Zimbabwe in third T20 match
Zimbabwe’s recent growth boosts confidence
Zimbabwe’s optimism is supported by a series of impressive performances over the past 12 months. One of his greatest achievements came during ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Earlier this year, where he surprised Australia By 23 runs in Colombo. This shock win played a key role in Australia’s unexpected group-stage elimination and declared Zimbabwe a real threat in the format.
The African team has also recorded notable T20 wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2026, reflecting the steady progress made under Raza’s leadership. The experienced all-rounder admitted that India is currently in a rebuilding phase, but added that Zimbabwe is also adding new talent to the team. He believes both teams are developing, making the contest more balanced than many observers suggest.
“Yes, India is going through a period of change and to some extent you will see there is going to be a bit of change in Zimbabwe too. I don’t see it as a one-sided series.” Raza added.
However, India will take confidence from their previous tour of Zimbabwe in 2024, when they bounced back from an early defeat under Gill’s captaincy to clinch a 4-1 series win. However, this time Iyer will captain India.
Also read: 5 players who have played most international matches for Zimbabwe ft Sikandar Raza