Team India may enter the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe with a stronger reputation on paper, but their captain Sikandar Raza believes the battle will be far more competitive than many anticipate. Ahead of the opening match at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, the experienced all-rounder shared his views on the idea of India being overwhelming favourites.
Sikandar Raza opens up on ‘India favourites’ tag ahead of T20I series
Speaking ahead of the series, Raza highlighted Zimbabwe’s recent progress in T20 cricket and expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete with one of the world’s biggest cricketing nations. The Zimbabwe skipper said both sides have an equal chance of winning the series, pointing to his team’s consistency and entertaining brand of cricket over the past year. According to Raza, fans should expect an exciting contest rather than a one-sided affair.
“Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am very sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can say this for sure that this series will be very entertaining,” Raza told Star Sports.
The three-match T20I series will be played entirely at the Harare Sports Club, with the remaining fixtures scheduled for July 25 and July 26.
India seek turnaround after difficult overseas campaign
India head into the Zimbabwe tour hoping to put behind a disappointing run in white-ball cricket. The visitors endured a forgettable tour of UK, suffering a 2-0 T20I series defeat against Ireland in Belfast before being swept 4-0 by England in a five-match T20I series under new captain Shreyas Iyer. Their struggles continued in the ODI format as Shubman Gill‘s side lost the three-match series 2-1 to England, leaving India searching for momentum ahead of another overseas assignment.
While India’s recent performances have raised concerns, the team still possesses plenty of quality and experience in the T20 format. The upcoming series presents an opportunity for the visitors to regain confidence and build combinations before future international assignments.
Zimbabwe’s recent rise fuels confidence
Zimbabwe’s optimism is backed by a series of impressive performances over the last 12 months. One of their biggest achievements came during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, where they stunned Australia by 23 runs in Colombo. The shock victory played a significant role in Australia’s unexpected group-stage elimination and announced Zimbabwe as a genuine threat in the format.
The African side has also registered notable T20 victories over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2026, reflecting the steady progress made under Raza’s leadership. The veteran all-rounder acknowledged that India are currently in a rebuilding phase but noted that Zimbabwe are also introducing fresh talent into the squad. He believes both teams are evolving, making the contest far more balanced than many observers suggest.
“Yes, India is going through a transition and to some extent you’ll see Zimbabwe is also gonna have a little bit of transition happening as well. I don’t see it as a one-sided series,” Raza added.
India will, however, take confidence from their previous tour of Zimbabwe in 2024, when they bounced back from an opening defeat to secure a commanding 4-1 series victory under the captaincy of Gill. Though, this time around, India will be captained by Iyer.
