Team India selectors at crossroads ahead of Afghanistan series with Rohit, Kohli willing to play in T20Is

Selecting the India squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan at home in January is going to be a tough task for the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli willing to continue playing in the shortest format. Rohit and Kohli last played in a T20I in the 2022 World Cup semi-final against England, but news agency PTI has reported that both the veterans are keen on being part of the T20 World Cup 2024. Shiv Sunder Das and Salil Ankola, two of the national selectors, have already reached South Africa and will soon be joined by Agarkar. The selectors are expected to have a word with coach Rahul Dravid, Test and ODI skipper Rohit and former captain Kohli before announcing the squad for the Afghanistan T20Is which starts on 11 January. With the five-match Test series vs England starting on 25 January, there’s also a possibility that both Rohit and Kohli will be rested once again. IPL to clear World Cup squad picture With the series against Afghanistan being the only T20I assignment before the World Cup, the selectors would rely on the IPL 2024 to pick their squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. They would be keeping an eye on 30 T20 specialists including India and IPL stars for the ICC event, the PTI report added. “Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya aren’t fit. The Afghanistan series won’t tell you anything. Everything will be decided on the basis of the first month of IPL,” a senior BCCI source said. The focus on selectors is going to be on having two players ready for each spot so that they can tackle issues like injury and fatigue during the World Cup and pick up their best possible squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. They, however, are set to face a lot of difficulty in picking a replacement for Hardik Pandya in case the all-rounder fails to get fit for the ICC event.