As India approaches its last T20I series before the T20 World Cup against Afghanistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, finds himself grappling with critical decisions. He is scheduled to engage in discussions with the team’s leadership trio – captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Rahul Dravid, and premier batsman Virat Kohli – amidst the ongoing Test series in South Africa.
Kohli and Rohit, absent from T20Is since the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, have made it explicitly clear that they are eager to participate in the ICC event slated for June 2024. The trio of selectors, comprising Agarkar, Shiv Sunder Das, and Salil Ankola, is expected to collaborate with the team management in finalizing the squad for the Afghanistan series scheduled from January 11 to 17.
Despite their expressed interest in the T20 World Cup, uncertainty clouds whether Kohli and Rohit will actively partake in the Afghanistan series. Considering the imminent five-match Test series against England commencing on January 25, the senior players may see limited action in a couple of T20 matches even if they make it to the squad.
The report hints at the Afghanistan series offering only partial insights into India’s conclusive squad for the T20 World Cup. The selectors are contemplating monitoring around 25-30 players during the two-month duration of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, a period anticipated to heavily influence the ultimate team selection.
A senior BCCI source shed light on the fitness concerns, stating, “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.”
