BCCI Selection Committee chairman Ajit Agarkar will fly to Cape Town to speak with both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on a return to T20Is. Both superstars have been on a T20I exile since the T20 World Cup 2022. But as both are keen to play in the T20 World Cup 2024 in June, the selectors will need to understand their plans. Two other selectors Shiv Sundar Das and Salil Ankola are already in Cape Town for the SA vs IND Test series. However, it’s still unclear whether Rohit-Virat will play in the IND vs AFG T20 series.
But even if they do play, they are unlikely to feature in all three IND vs AFG T20I matches. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two crucial players for the IND vs ENG Test series. And as reported by InsideSport earlier, Agarkar will speak to both on their return.
“It’s up to the selectors to decide who will lead the side. We had a lengthy discussion with Rohit and he is ready to lead in T20 World Cup. But the England Test series is more important. And Ajit (Agarkar) will talk to Rohit and take a call on whether he will return for the series,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport last week.
Apart from Rohit Virat, Ajit Agarkar will also speak with India head coach Rahul Dravid. They will make a shortlist of 30 players who will be monitored throughout the IPL 2024.
IND vs AFG not in focus
However, IND vs AFG T20 series which starts on Jan 11 won’t be in focus as much. Even though Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to T20Is, IND vs AFG series may not be the one for their comeback.
Instead, IPL 2024 is where both will be polishing their powerhitting skills as IND vs ENG Test series takes centre stage.
“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 told PTI.
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