With the first T20I scheduled against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday, the newly formed coach-captain partnership aims to build upon India's recent World Cup triumph while navigating through a transitional phase.

"After losing the first match, we were under a bit of pressure. It's not easy to play back-to-back games and the series was planned in a way that there were two back-to-back games, a couple of days rest, and then again back-to-back games."

Back to their collective best, a clutch of young Indian stars will be eager to usher in a new era in the shortest format with a series victory when they face Zimbabwe in the fourth T20I on Saturday.

In a thrilling second T20I match at the Harare Sports Club, India, led by Shubman Gill, secured a commanding 100-run victory over Zimbabwe, levelling the five-match series 1-1. Abhishek Sharma's explosive century and disciplined bowling by the Indian bowlers were the highlights of the game, as Zimbabwe struggled to chase down a massive target of 235 runs.

Reflecting on his preferred batting position, Gill expressed his inclination towards opening, a role previously dominated by Rohit and Kohli in the recent World Cup campaign.

India's T20 World Cup champions were warmly welcomed by Zimbabwe Cricket upon their arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport for a five-match T20I series starting this Saturday. The first match is scheduled for July 6 at the Harare Sports Club, which will also host the remaining games, concluding on July 14.

This series marks a significant departure from the usual lineup, as the national selectors have decided to rest all the senior stars currently engaged in the T20 World Cup in the West Indies.

It will be a test of wits between two new captains -- Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad -- when defending champions Chennai Super Kings clash with Gujarat Titans in an Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill's splendid hundreds gave India complete control of the fifth Test against England despite a late batting collapse that saw the hosts end day two at 473 for eight

India registered a five-wicket win in the fourth and penultimate Test to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series against England, who suffered their first Test series defeat under the leadership of captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.

India's home supremacy weathered the 'Bazball' storm as Rohit Sharma's men secured a hard-fought five-wicket win over England in the fourth and penultimate Test for a 17th consecutive series triumph in their own backyard.

"It is a bit tough (living up to his expectations). When people from outside talk about all those things, it does not make much difference to me. But the expectations that I kept on myself made me a bit disappointed," Gill said in a press conference here on Wednesday.