BCCI announces India's squad for Afghanistan T20I series, Rohit-Kohli return

The All India selection committee announced the 16-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan on Sunday, January 07. India captain Rohit Sharma has marked his return in the shortest format for the first time since the T20 World Cup 2022 along with star batter Virat Kohli. 

Notably, there was widespread suspense on the inclusion of the two senior players in the T20I squad ahead of the World Cup as the team management was looking to revamp the side. However, the duo had expressed their willingness to play in the format and are the top two leading run scorers in T20Is.

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With Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav down with ankle injuries, the team management had to announce a new captain for the three-match series and hence they’ve trusted the veteran batter to take up the role. The return of Kohli and Rohit comes as a relief for their fans who were dreading the end of their respective careers in the T20Is.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has also been included in the squad following his spectacular hundred in the third ODI against South Africa. Notably, Samson last played in T20Is in August 2023 on the Ireland tour.

Right-arm seamer Avesh Khan has also marked his return after missing out from South Africa T20Is while Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested. All-rounder Shivam Dube has also earned a call-up having last played in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou. Dube has played 18 T20Is in his career scoring 152 runs and picking 6 wickets.

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The three-match T20I series will begin with the opening game at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on 11^th January while the second game will be played in Indore on January 14 followed by the third T20I in Bengaluru on January 17.

India’s squad for 3 T20Is vs 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