Ravi Bishnoi to Replace Injured Varun Chakravarthy in India’s T20I Squad for Zimbabwe Tour

Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi has been called up as a replacement for the injured Varun Chakravarthy in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Friday.

Varun Chakravarthy, who featured in the original 15-member squad announced earlier this month, suffered a hamstring injury during the ongoing T20I series against England. He had earlier managed a toe issue that affected his participation in IPL 2026 but was cleared fit by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence ahead of the England tour. The injury has now ruled him out of the Zimbabwe assignment, scheduled to begin on July 23 in Harare.

The selection committee, in consultation with head coach Gautam Gambhir and Centre of Excellence chief V.V.S. Laxman — who will oversee the team in Zimbabwe – opted to recall Bishnoi. The Rajasthan leg-spinner was initially left out of the Zimbabwe squad following a mixed showing in recent limited-overs assignments.

Bishnoi, known for his sharp googlies and variations, has a strong record in T20Is, including a memorable four-wicket haul (4/13) against Zimbabwe in 2024. His inclusion bolsters India’s spin options alongside Harsh Dubey in a series expected to favour slow bowlers on the Harare tracks.

India’s T20I Squad for Zimbabwe Series

India last toured Zimbabwe in 2024, securing a dominant 4-1 series victory. The upcoming matches at Harare Sports Club (July 23, 25, and 26) will serve as valuable preparation.

The Shreyas Iyer-led Indian team have lost two T20I series in a row and Iyer is yet to win a match as India captain. After a shocking 2-0 series loss against Ireland, India have continued their freefall with a shambolic 4-0 defeat against England.