Veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been added for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The duo last played in the T20I format back in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022, which India lost.
Since then, the pair has not been included in the T20I format by the selectors. With the T20 World Cup 2024 set to be played in June in the USA and the West Indies, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has named the experienced duo for the series against Afghanistan.
The duo returning to the T20I squad is an indication that they will return to the T20 World Cup squad. Rohit will also take back the captaincy duties.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, who have led the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma, are not part of the squad as they are recovering from their respective injuries.
Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar are the three pacers in the squad, alongside four spin options – Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. But there is no Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the squad.
Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson have been picked as the two wicket-keepers in the T20I squad. Furthermore, players like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja are not picked in the squad.
The three-match series is set to begin on January 11, in Mohali. The second T20I will be played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on 14th January whereas the final game of the series will be played in Bengaluru on 17th January.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), 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.
