Virat Kohli’s absence from the first T20 against Afghanistan, despite his return to India’s T20 squad post the 2022 T20 World Cup, has disappointed fans. However, it has been clarified in a media interaction by head coach Rahul Dravid that Kohli withdrew for ‘personal reasons.’ Both Kohli and Rohit Sharma had been out of the T20 format since the 2022 World Cup.
This series against Afghanistan serves as India’s final T20 series before the 2024 T20 World Cup, giving captain Rohit Sharma the last chance to fine-tune the team ahead of the global event. Despite injuries sidelining players like Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya for this series, they are expected to be fit for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The opening match of the three-game T20 series between India and Afghanistan will take place at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, a ground known for its beneficial batting conditions, though dew may play a role.
The probable playing XI for Team India includes Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson/Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Akshar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav/Ravi Bishnoi, and Mukesh Kumar.