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In the inaugural match of the three-match T20I series held in Harare on Thursday, India won the toss and decided to bowl first against Zimbabwe. This match marks the international debut of pacer Ashok Sharma for the Indian team.

After winning the toss, Shreyas Iyer, the captain, expressed his decision to bowl first, anticipating some bounce from the pitch based on observations from practice sessions. However, he acknowledged uncertainty about how the pitch would perform, as it was his first experience at this venue. Iyer commended Zimbabwe for their impressive performances in recent years, especially during the World Cup, noting their strengths in both batting and bowling. He confirmed that the Indian lineup would consist of three seamers and one spinner.

"We are opting to bowl first. Since this is my first time here, I am unsure how the wicket will behave. However, based on the practice wickets, there seems to be a decent amount of bounce. I am anticipating that aspect. Regarding Zimbabwe, they have been performing exceptionally well over the past couple of years, particularly during the World Cup, showcasing their batting and bowling strengths. It was impressive to watch. For our team composition, we are going with three seamers and one spinner," Iyer stated during the toss presentation.

Iyer's leadership journey has started on a challenging note, with the team facing a 2-0 series defeat against Ireland, followed by a 4-0 loss to England, including one match that was abandoned due to rain.

Zimbabwe's captain, Sikandar Raza, commented on the pitch conditions, stating that it differs from the typical Harare Sports Club surface. He noted that while there might be some initial assistance for bowlers, he expects this to diminish quickly. Raza believes it is a good batting wicket and is optimistic that Zimbabwe can score a substantial total.

"This pitch is not the usual Harare Sports Club wicket. There will be some assistance at the start, but I don't expect it to last long. I believe there are plenty of runs available on this wicket, and we hope to capitalize on that," Raza remarked.

India's lineup includes: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (w), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav.

Zimbabwe's team consists of: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (w), Ben Curran, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.