India vs Afghanistan T20Is: The Indian squad for the T20 series against Afghanistan has been announced.
The Indian team has been announced for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. There are surprises in the 16-man squad. Two senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made a comeback in India’s T20 team after a long time. Naturally, the hitman returned to lead the Indian T20 team.
Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are out of the series against Afghanistan at home due to injuries. Hardik led the Indian side in T20 cricket for a number of matches. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav took over the leadership of the Indian team. However, as Surya was also ruled out of the series due to injury, it was thought that India’s T20 captaincy could be handed over to someone new.
But the national selectors returned Rohit-Kohli to make it clear that the two senior stars are well in India’s World Cup plans.
This series against Afghanistan is being considered as the last warm-up stage for India before the T20 World Cup. So, the national selectors had no choice but to bring Rohit-Kohli back into the team for the World Cup. However, in the absence of Hardik-Suryakumar, there is a doubt whether the Agarkars are forced to turn their backs on the veteran cricketers.
Virat Kohli last played for India in a T20 international on 10 November 2022. He did not wear the T20 jersey of the national team again after the T20 World Cup semi-final match against England in Adelaide. Finally, after 14 long months, Virat will again enter the field for the national team in the T20 format.
Rohit Sharma also last played T20 for India in the semi-final of the last World Cup. So, he too will don the jersey of the Indian team in 20-over cricket after 14 months. If Rohit is in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, there is no doubt that he will lead the national team.
No room for KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan
Despite the return of Rohit-Kohli, the door to the T20 team did not open for Lokesh Rahul. Ishan Kishan is not in the team. On that occasion, Sanju Samson again got a chance in the T20 team. Jitesh Sharma is the second wicketkeeper. Veteran all-rounder Jadeja is also not a part of the Indian squad against Afghanistan. Top pacers like Bumrah-Siraj were not kept in the squad.
It is the time to infuse some fresh blood in the Indian squad. Tilak Verma, Rinku Singh retained their place in the national T20 squad. Shivam Dubey is in the squad as an all-rounder. Mukesh Kumar is in the team as a specialist pacer.
India’s T20 squad for Afghanistan series
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dubey, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh , Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar.
IND vs AFG T20I schedule
First T20: January 11, 2024 (Mohali).
Second T20I: January 14, 2024 (Indore).
Third T20I: January 17, 2024 (Bengaluru).
