Predicted Playing XI: India
Team India is expected to break their sequence of left-handers at the top to counter Zimbabwe’s spin threat. Sanju Samson is the frontrunner to return, likely opening the batting to provide a right-left combination, while Axar Patel is tipped to replace Washington Sundar to add experience and finishing power on this Chennai surface.
Predicted XI: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav (c), 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Rinku Singh, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakaravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.
Predicted Playing XI: Zimbabwe
The Chevrons have been the tournament’s surprise package and are unlikely to tinker much with the core that stunned Australia and Sri Lanka. Their strategy will revolve around the explosive Tadiwanashe Marumani at the top and the veteran leadership of Sikandar Raza in the middle overs.
Predicted XI: 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 3 Dion Myers, 4 Ryan Burl, 5 Sikandar Raza (c), 6 Tony Munyonga, 7 Tashinga Musekiwa, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Richard Ngarava, 11 Blessing Muzarabani.
