The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to hold a meeting in Mumbai on Sunday to discuss the inclusion of captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
India are yet to announce the squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, which is scheduled to commence on January 11. While Afghanistan have named a robust 19-member squad on Saturday, the BCCI’s selection committee is expected to reveal the Indian squad following Sunday’s meeting.
Rohit Sharma, who has not played a T20I since the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022, is anticipated to lead the Indian team in the final T20I series before the World Cup 2024. Meanwhile, star batter Virat Kohli, whose last T20I appearance also came in the semi-final loss, is also expected to make a return. Kohli’s recent form has been commendable, with an impressive performance in the 2023 World Cup where he scored 750 runs, including three centuries.
However, the selectors face a challenging decision as they consider the impact of these veteran players’ return on the squad dynamics. Both Rohit and Virat have expressed their willingness to participate in T20Is, and there is speculation that they may return for the T20Is against Afghanistan.
Nonetheless, the final call on their participation in the T20 World Cup will likely depend on their performances in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
The BCCI’s top brass, including secretary Jay Shah, is likely to attend the meeting alongside the chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who is returning from South Africa. The discussions held in South Africa were inconclusive, prompting this additional round of deliberations.
Suryakumar Yadav will miss the series against Afghanistan due to an ankle injury, while Hardik Pandya is also set to be absent because of an injury sustained during the 2023 World Cup. This opens up the possibility for Rohit Sharma to reassume the captaincy role for the T20I series.
