IND vs ZIM: Zimbabwe Cricket has committed an embarrassing error ahead of the three-match T20I series against India by featuring former India skipper Suryakumar Yadav instead of current skipper Shreyas Iyer in its official promotional campaign. The poster was posted on the official social media handles of Zimbabwe Cricket and also served as the cover image on their X (formerly Twitter) account and prominently featured Suryakumar in India’s jersey despite the fact that he is no longer a part of the national T20I setup.
All set for exciting T20I action as Zimbabwe take on India at Harare Sports Club, with the series opener happening this Thursday.#ZIMvIND #ExperienceZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/5GPwMpWmoM
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) July 21, 2026
The gaffe has quickly drawn the attention of cricket fans, especially after Suryakumar Yadav was removed as India’s T20I captain and dropped from the squad ahead of the Ireland and England tours. Shreyas Iyer has since taken over the leadership duties and is set to captain India during the Zimbabwe tour.
Why Was Suryakumar Yadav Dropped from India’s T20I Team?
Suryakumar Yadav’s exclusion from the India T20I squad was part of the BCCI’s long-term plans ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle. After a long period of not scoring runs, the selectors decided to go in a new direction and he led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 title, beating New Zealand in the final.
The Mumbai batsman had a tough time in international cricket. He continued his struggles in IPL 2026, managing only 270 runs from 13 innings for Mumbai Indians. Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir then handed the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer, who had been in good form, having two brilliant IPL seasons in a row with Punjab Kings while regularly contributing with the bat.
Shreyas Iyer Yet to Taste Victory as India’s T20I Captain
While Shreyas Iyer has earned praise for his leadership credentials and batting performances in franchise cricket, his start as India’s T20I captain has been far from ideal. India suffered a 2-0 series defeat in Ireland, followed by a 4-0 defeat against England, leaving Iyer still searching for his first victory as captain in the shortest format.
The upcoming Zimbabwe series therefore assumes greater significance for both Iyer and the young Indian squad. After six consecutive defeats in T20Is, India would be keen to turn the tide after having 7 winless T20I matches in a row and start a new chapter under the new captain. Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, will also have the advantage of recent progress in white-ball cricket and will look to exploit home conditions.
India vs Zimbabwe T20I Series 2026 Schedule
1st T20I: Thursday, July 23, 2026 – Harare Sports Club, Harare – 4:30 PM IST
2nd T20I: Saturday, July 25, 2026 – Harare Sports Club, Harare – 4:30 PM IST
3rd T20I: Sunday, July 26, 2026 – Harare Sports Club, Harare – 4:30 PM IST
