NEW DELHI: The
Indian cricket
team's tour of Zimbabwe has provided an opportunity for several promising talents to showcase their skills on the international stage. Among the notable inclusions are the all-rounders
Abhishek Sharma
and
Riyan Parag
, along with the pacer
Tushar Deshpande
, who have received their maiden call-ups to the national team.
Abhishek Sharma, a 22-year-old batting all-rounder from Punjab, had a breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, amassing 484 runs in 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 204.21, including a remarkable 42 sixes.
His explosive batting and handy off-spin bowling have earned him recognition, and he will be eager to translate his domestic success to the international arena.
"I received a call from Gill after the selection, I felt very good. When I went home, (maine dekha mere gharwale interviews de rahe hain mere pehele. Mere interviews toh dur ki baat hai, mere gharwale interviews de rahe hai) I saw that before my interview, my parents were giving interviews. That is the one moment I would cherish for the rest of my life. I felt proud. Ever since I started from day one, I had the dream of playing for India. I knew if I kept working hard I would get an opportunity but did not know I would go outside India, to Zimbabwe. This feels like a reunion," said Abhishek, as quoted by ANI.
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Tushar Deshpande has been rewarded for his consistent performances in domestic cricket. Known for his ability to extract bounce and movement off the pitch, Deshpande will be looking to make an impact with his pace and accuracy in the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe.
"The firsts are always special as we all say, same for me because playing for the country is very special. Travelling with the team, and getting to know them is important. The fun we have during travels is also important," the pacer asserted.
21-year-old Riyan Parag has been a consistent performer in the IPL, emerging as the third-highest run-getter in the 2024 edition with 573 runs in 16 matches, including four half-centuries.
"Ever since I was a kid, it was a dream to travel like this. Though we play matches, but traveling, wearing Indian clothes, is a dream. It is a new team, almost, a lot of new and old faces. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamt of it. There will be a special connection with Zimbabwe," added Parag.
The inclusion of these talented players in the Indian squad reflects the team management's commitment to identifying and nurturing young talent.
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