Team India pacer Mukesh Kumar will sit out the third T20I of the ongoing five-match series against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 10. The 30-year-old, who played the first two T20Is, has been rested for today’s crucial encounter with the series tied at one apiece.
Mukesh had impressive figures of 1/16 in three overs in the series opener, although India suffered a surprising 13-run defeat. He followed that with another strong performance in the second T20I, recording figures of 3/37 in India’s commanding 100-run victory, which leveled the series.
Skipper Shubman Gill confirmed Mukesh’s rest after winning the toss and electing to bat first. He stated:
“We’ll bat first. Hopefully, the moisture will help us. We’ve got the WC back, Sanju, Jaiswal, and Shivam are in. So is Khaleel; Mukesh rests for this one. We feel we have a balanced side.”
India made several other changes, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Khaleel Ahmed, and Shivam Dube replacing Riyan Parag, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, and Mukesh Kumar.
Zimbabwe also made two changes, bringing in Richard Ngarava and Tadiwanashe Marumani in place of Luke Jongwe and Innocent Kaia.
Mukesh Kumar’s Impact in the Series
Mukesh Kumar was instrumental in India’s series-leveling win, wreaking havoc on Zimbabwe’s top order. After the surprising defeat in the opening match, Team India faced a must-win situation in the second T20I. The Men in Blue rebounded strongly, posting a massive 234/2 in their 20 overs.
Mukesh Kumar set the tone for India’s bowling performance with a wicket off the third delivery of Zimbabwe’s innings, removing opener Innocent Kaia. He wasn’t done yet, as he cleaned up the dangerous Brian Bennett for 26 off 9 balls, reducing Zimbabwe to 40/2 in three overs.
Mukesh’s early breakthroughs set the stage for the rest of the Indian bowlers, who combined to bowl out Zimbabwe for a mere 134. The medium pacer also picked up the final wicket, dismissing Luke Jongwe for a 26-ball 33.
Since debuting for India in all formats last year, Mukesh has showcased his skill, taking 28 wickets in 25 games. His rest for today’s match underscores India’s depth and the need to manage player workloads in a busy cricketing calendar.
As the series continues, both teams will be eager to gain the upper hand, and fans will be watching closely to see how the changes impact the game’s outcome.
