Rohit Sharma is likely to return to India’s T20I side and resume his captaincy in the shortest format in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. But there are doubts over Virat Kohli’s T20I future.
India will host Afghanistan for 3 T20Is, on January 11, 14, and 17, before the Test series against England commences on January 25th. Since this is the only T20I series left for India before the T20 World Cup 2024, it is likely that the selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, will give opportunities to their first-choice players, in particular in the batting section.
While Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Suryakumar Yadav are injured and not fit for this series, it is likely that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will be rested as there is a 5-Test series against England coming up. Ravindra Jadeja could be rested as well to be fresh for the home Test series.
BCCI and selectors reportedly want Rohit Sharma to lead India in T20 World Cup 2024
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not played a T20I since the semi-final exit in Adelaide in T20 World Cup 2022, because ODIs had taken precedence in 2023. KL Rahul has been dropped from the T20I team. Rohit and Kohli had also taken a break from the T20Is against South Africa last month.
Since Hardik and Suryakumar both are injured, Rahul is dropped, and Bumrah is likely to be rested, India are short of captaincy options apart from Rohit, though Shreyas Iyer could lead the side; Ruturaj Gaikwad captained India in the Asian Games, but he seems to be behind in the pecking order than Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as top-order options.
There are rumors that the selectors and the BCCI wish for Rohit Sharma to continue leading the T20I side in the World Cup in the West Indies and the USA as well, however, a decision on Virat Kohli is not yet made.
Rinku Singh, who has been very impressive is set to be retained. For the wicket-keeper slot, India have options in Kishan, Samson, and Jitesh Sharma, apart from KL Rahul.
India’s Probable Squad For India vs Afghanistan:
Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar
Ganguly said "Rohit Sharma should be the captain in the T20I World Cup". [RevSportz] pic.twitter.com/AnDhfuAf3r
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 7, 2024
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