Virat Kohli returns to T20Is as BCCI announces 16-member squad for Afghanistan series

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were named in India’s squad for the three-match  series against Afghanistan, marking the return of both senior pros to the T20I scheme of things for the first time since the culmination of the 2022 T20 World Cup. 

Rohit has been named as the captain of the squad in the absence of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, both of whom are tending to injuries and are ruled out of the series.

Murmurs were that the Indian team selectors may have moved on from their seasoned virtuosos and will be going forth with fresh faces in the upcoming World Cup. However, months ahead of the T20 World cup later in the year which will be co-hosted by West Indies and USA, the seniors have been included in the squad.

After smashing a brilliant century in the third ODI against South Africa, Sanju Samson found himself a spot in the T20Is while the other wicket-keeper for the team is dynamic finisher Jitesh Sharma, with Ishan Kishan opting out due to personal reasons. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi have been picked as the three spinners, while Yuzvendra Chahal continues to be overlooked. 

Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar will form the pace battery, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj rested ahead of a gruelling 5-match home Test series against England that is to follow the Afghanistan T20I series.

Indian squad for Afghanistan T20Is: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar