[In Pictures] New-look India side under VVS Laxman departs for Zimbabwe tour

A new-look Indian team departed for Zimbabwe on Tuesday, July 2, for a five-match T20I series which comes soon after the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared photos of the squad from their transit plane.

VVS Laxman, who'll coach the side temporarily in the buffer period between Rahul Dravid's retirement and the new coach's appointment, was all smiles alongside the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, among others.

Check the photos here:

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja aren't part of the side after announcing their T20I retirements recently. Most other senior T20 World Cup-winning team members have also been given a rest.

Three from the main squad - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube - while four from the reserves - Ꮪhubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed - are part of the tour. The T20 World Cup squad is struck in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl and some members are likely to join later.

Gill, who'll lead the team, wasn't seen in the photos despite being released from the squad early alongside Avesh, who was seen in the post. It'll be interesting to see when he joins the team, with the series set to begin on Saturday, July 6.

India's squad for Zimbabwe tour: Ꮪhubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar and Tushar Deshpande.

Schedule for India's tour of Zimbabwe

1st T20I – July 6, Saturday

2nd T20I – July 7, Sunday

3rd T20I – July 10, Wednesday

4th T20I – July 13, Saturday

5th T20I – July 14, Sunday

All matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, beginning at 4:30 pm IST.