In a much-anticipated announcement, the BCCI Men’s selection panel is set to announce India’s T20 squad on Friday for the upcoming series against Afghanistan.
The three-match IND vs AFG T20I series will be held in Mohali, Indore, and Bengaluru.
Notable omissions from the probable playing XI include the absence of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, who are sidelined due to injuries.
The absence of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav might pave the way for the return of Rohit Sharma to the T20I format.
Rohit Sharma’s recent stellar performances in South Africa make him a strong contender for the captaincy, especially as India looks to fine-tune their squad for the T20 World Cup.
Shubman Gill is also expected to lead the side, at least for this series. He will be leading the GT squad in IPL 2024. The final decision from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel is eagerly awaited by fans and pundits alike.
The batting lineup is expected to feature the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube, offering a blend of experience and exuberance. In the bowling department, promising talents Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav are likely to spearhead the spin attack.
The absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who played pivotal roles in India’s recent Test victories against South Africa, is a strategic decision. Reports indicate that both may be rested for the T20Is against Afghanistan, ensuring they remain in prime condition for the upcoming extensive series against England.
The wicketkeeping duties are likely to be shared between Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson, adding depth to the squad. With the potential resting of key pacers, Arshdeep Singh emerges as a front-runner to lead India’s pace attack, accompanied by the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar, and Avesh Khan.
The spotlight is also on the possible return of T20 giants Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who last played a T20I in the World Cup semifinal loss in 2022 against England. The selectors face the challenging decision of balancing experience and youth as they finalize the squad for the Afghanistan series.
IND vs AFG T20I Series: India’s probable squad
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
IND vs AFG T20I: Complete Schedule
IND vs AFG, 1st T20I- January 11, 7.00 PM IST, Mohali
IND vs AFG, 2nd T20I- January 14, 7.00 PM IST, Indore
IND vs AFG, 3rd T20I- January 17, 7.00 PM IST, Bengaluru
