The Indian squad for the upcoming Afghanistan T20I series was announced by the Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli make their return to the T20I squad after a prolonged delay. (More Cricket News)
Rohit will be leading the side. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are unavailable due to their respective injuries. As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, Surya and Hardik are expected to return to the field in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as teammates with the Mumbai Indians for the first time in three years with the latter appointed as skipper over Rohit.
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PTI had reported last week that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel was set to pick the celebrated duo for the Afghanistan series.
"Decisions on Rohit and Virat can't solely be taken by the selection committee. There is a lot at stake, broadcasters, sponsors and you can't pick one and drop the other. Ajit and his team needed to maintain a status quo," a former India selector told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
While Rohit's chances of leading India in the T20 World Cup has considerably brightened, the development comes across as a big blow to Hardik's captaincy ambitions at the global event in June. However, he has replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians skipper for IPL 2024.
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The T20 squad also features Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, who will be the two glovesmen with Ishan Kishan being ignored for the shortest format.
"Ishan wasn't happy that he was travelling without much game time. He is on a break right now and is vacationing. In any case, selectors are in all likelihood are looking beyond Kishan.
"It will be interesting if he is picked for England Test series where KS Bharat will be back behind the stumps," a BCCI source said.
Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, the two Test team certainties, have been rested and Ruturaj Gaikwad isn't fit to play yet.
All-rounder Shivam Dube has also been named in the squad in Hardik's absence. The Afghanistan series will be India's last before the World Cup, which takes place right after the IPL.
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith reckons leaving out the likes of Rohit and Kohli from any team is extremely tough.
"I wouldn't want to be a selector. It's a very tough decision to leave out two players who have been incredible. Virat always comes back incredibly well. With the amount of talent that India has now, it is a difficult choice to make," said Smith on the sidelines of an interaction organised ahead of SA20.
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Here is the official squad that will take on Afghanistan in the 3-match series:
Rohit Sharma (C), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, W Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar
Schedule for the India vs Afghanistan T20I Series:
India take on Afghanistan for a three-match T20I series. The first T20I will be played on January 11 in Mohali. The second T20I will be played on January 14 in Indore whereas the third will be played on January 17 in Bengaluru. All the matches will start at 7 PM (India time).
(With PTI inputs)
