Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announce Team India squad for the 3-match T20I series against Afghanistan with both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli coming back into the T20 side.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returns to the T20I side after not taking part in any international T20 matches after T20 World Cup in 2022.
Rohit Sharma will lead the side and Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are both unavailable due to injury.
The 3 T20s against Afghanistan are the only international matches India will play before the T20 World Cup in June 2024.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is not part of the squad, who played the series and was name as vice-captain the 3-match T20I series against South Africa.
While Sanju Samson has includes in the squad.
Shivam Dube is also the part of the team.
Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah are both rested for upcoming games against Afghanistan and will might make their return to the Test squad which will face England.
Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah play key roles in India’s win over South Africa at Cape Town where India level the two-match series.
The 3 T20s against Afghanistan will take place on 11th, 14th and 17th January 2024 at Mohali, Indore and Bengaluru respectively.
Ishan Kishan was a notable omission from the squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan.
The Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper play against Australia at home after the ODI World Cup but was withdrawn from the Test squad for the recently conclude 2-match series in South Africa.
Ishan reportedly request the BCCI for a break due to mental fatigue with the cricket board mentioning “personal reasons” in its official release.
Men’s Selection Committee have not consider KL Rahul for the T20I series against Afghanistan.
KL Rahul, much like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, has not play T20Is since India’s semi-final exit in T20 World Cup in 2022.
Notably, KL Rahul express his intent to return to T20Is after the successful tour of South Africa, in which he hit a Test hundred and led the ODI team to a series victory.
India Squad For Afghanistan T20Is : Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Roped In; Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj Rested.
— 2YoDoINDIA News Network (@2yodoindia) January 7, 2024
Details : https://t.co/YIkR0MlbxC#2YoDoINDIA #ViratKohli #RohitSharma #India #Afghanistan #IndiaVsAfghanistan #Cricket #BCCI #CricketNews #T20WorldCup2024 #INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/DdlxKKepce
India’s Squad for 3 T20Is against Afghanistan
- Rohit Sharma (Captain),
- Shubman Gill,
- Yashasvi Jaiswal,
- Virat Kohli,
- Tilak Varma,
- Rinku Singh,
- Jitesh Sharma (Wicket Keeper),
- Sanju Samson (Wicket Keeper),
- Shivam Dube,
- Washington Sundar,
- Axar Patel,
- Ravi Bishnoi,
- Kuldeep Yadav,
- Arshdeep Singh,
- Avesh Khan,
- Mukesh Kumar
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be marking their return to T20I cricket during the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan starting from 11th January 2024.
Both batters last play for India in a T20I encounter back in November 2022.
Since then, they have concentrate on ODIs and Tests with youngsters getting chances in the shortest format of the sport.
As a result, a lot of questions were ask about their possible inclusion for the T20 World Cup 2024.
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play a massive role in India’s performance in the Cricket World Cup 2023 where they were defeat by Australia in the final after winning ten games in a row.
Both players will be raring to go in the upcoming World Cup and a win will be the perfect end of their illustrious careers in the T20 format.
Indian cricket team also has a solid structure at the top of their batting order that allows youngsters like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma to find their foothold in the side.
With Suryakumar Yadav and Ruturaj Gaikwad both missing out due to injury, it comes as no surprise that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will shoulder a lot of responsibility in the upcoming series.
Both selection sends a clear indication at how India will possibly set up their ranks at the T20 World Cup in June 2024.
