The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) national selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, presented a strong 16-man team on Sunday, January 7, in anticipation of the next three-match Twenty20 International Series against Afghanistan.
The captain of the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma, will be returning to Twenty20 Internationals after the 2022 World Cup, teaming up with Virat Kohli. Being the top two run-scorers in Twenty20 Internationals, the experienced tandem indicated their willingness to participate, and the expectation around their participation was high as the team management sought to rebuild the squad.
The seasoned batter has been appointed as the team’s captain for the forthcoming three-match series, following the absence of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav due to injury. Kohli and Rohit’s comeback has allayed supporters’ fears that their Twenty20 International careers are coming to an end.
Unfortunately, Ishan Kishan will not be playing in the Twenty20 Internationals since he rested up mentally before the tests between India and South Africa. Both Sanju Samson and the promising rookie Jitesh Sharma will be serving as wicketkeepers.
Hardik Pandya, who led India in T20Is after their departure from the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, is ruled out due to an ankle injury received in last year’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar are all-rounders who will represent India in their last international match before the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2024. India will most likely rest vice captain Ravindra Jadeja in preparation for their next five-test home series against England. Jadeja captained the team in their most recent Twenty20 International series in South Africa.
Our usual fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, are both out with injuries, and we don’t know if Mohammed Shami will play or not. The bowling attack contains Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar for the upcoming three T20Is.
The T20I series kicks off with the first match at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on January 11th. Subsequently, the action moves to Indore for the second game on January 14, and the series concludes with the third T20I in Bengaluru on January 17.
India squad for 3-match T20I series against Afghanistan:
Rohit Sharma (C), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, W Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar
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