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After a disappointing tour of the UK, where they suffered defeats in all three series and managed only a single victory, the Indian cricket team is set to play their first T20I against Zimbabwe. This match will take place at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, July 23. Notably, the team will be led by interim coach VVS Laxman, as Gautam Gambhir is unavailable for this series. This change means that Shreyas Iyer will have experienced two different head coaches during his brief captaincy tenure. Gambhir was at the helm during Iyer's initial series in charge against Ireland and England.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to rest Gambhir for this series, allowing him a break amid a demanding schedule. This marks the first occasion since he took over in July 2024 that he has not accompanied the team for a series. Such absences were not uncommon during Rahul Dravid's coaching period, where Laxman often stepped in. Laxman, who heads the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, last coached the team during a five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe in July 2024, which occurred between Dravid's final assignment at the T20 World Cup 2024 and Gambhir's initial tour of Sri Lanka. Furthermore, Laxman is expected to lead the T20I squad for the 2026 Asian Games, coinciding with an ODI series against the West Indies, while Gambhir is anticipated to manage the 50-over format.