Big call on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s T20I future; Selectors set to announce team for Afghanistan T20Is and Two-Tests against England

India's dynamic batting duo, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has signalled their readiness for T20 International cricket despite being absent from the format since the 2022 T20 World Cup, according to sources close to the Indian Cricket Council.

The impending selection committee meeting scheduled to pick the squad for the upcoming T20 clashes against Afghanistan and the first two Tests against England will be under the scanner for the selection calls they will take especially for the T20I series against Afghanistan.

Sharma and Kohli's absence from T20 Internationals raises eyebrows, considering their stature in the cricketing world. The selection committee, convening shortly, adds intrigue to their potential return and its impact on the team dynamics.

The series against Afghanistan, is set to commence on January 11 is an important one given that it is the last series before the World Cup in June. However, the unavailability of key players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav due to injuries poses a challenge. This creates an unexpected void, prompting the selection committee to scout for a new captain to lead the squad in these crucial T20 encounters.

Strategic Rest for Key Players

With Pandya and Yadav on the sidelines, the selection committee faces the daunting task of not only filling leadership shoes but also managing the absence of these impact players. The decision to rest fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming T20 games against Afghanistan was on the cards given that they featured in the recently concluded test series against South Africa and wants them fresh for the five-match test series against England.

This move aims at preserving the duo's form and fitness for the impending Test series against England. The series against Afghanistan presents a conundrum in front of the selectors as the selection in this series will reflect the vision of the selectors for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

We could see some drastic steps by the selectors in this series and the trio of selectors, namely SS Das, Salil Ankola, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, present in Cape Town, further emphasizes the gravity of the decision-making process.