BCCI announced on Sunday that Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian cricket team in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The series, commencing on January 11 in Mohali, marks the return of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the T20I format after an absence of more than a year.
The last time fans saw Rohit and Kohli in T20Is was during the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal against England at the Adelaide Oval. The duo opted to prioritize Test cricket and ODIs, taking a hiatus from the shortest format. Their comeback aligns strategically with India’s plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
Ind vs Afg T20 Series: Schedule
Jan 11, Thursday: India vs Afghanistan 1st T20 – 7:00 PM IST, Mohali
Jan 14, Sunday: India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20 – 7:00 PM IST, Indore
Jan 17, Wednesday: India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20 – 7:00 PM IST, Bengaluru
However, notable absentees from the squad include Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, who are both recovering from injuries. The absence of key players such as Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj has also caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts.
Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson have been named as the two wicketkeeping options, adding an element of intrigue to India’s T20I lineup. While Jitesh Sharma continues his stint in the squad after featuring in recent series against Australia and South Africa, Sanju Samson returns after touring Ireland with a second-string squad in August last year.
The bowling attack features a blend of experience and fresh talent. Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar are the three pacers in the squad, while the spin department boasts the likes of Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Injury concerns have led to exclusions, with Ruturaj Gaikwad nursing a finger injury sustained in South Africa, and Ishan Kishan opting out to refocus on his game. The absence of KL Rahul from the 15-member squad is notable.
Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube secures another opportunity in T20Is following a noteworthy performance in the IPL 2023. Dube, known for his spin-hitting prowess, played a pivotal role in Chennai Super Kings’ success and was part of India’s second-string squad that clinched the Asian Games gold in Hangzhou.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have been rested to manage their workloads ahead of the upcoming five-Test series at home against England. Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja are also missing, with Jadeja’s absence attributed to a neck spasm that saw him miss the first Test against South Africa.
India’s T20I squad for series vs Afghanistan
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar
The three-match T20I series against Afghanistan serves as India’s final T20I assignment before the T20 World Cup, with the first match scheduled for January 11 in Mohali. Following this series, India is set to host England from January 25 to March 11, after which players will join their respective IPL teams for the 2024 season. The T20 World Cup is slated to commence on June 1.