With Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav out with injuries, selectors pick full-strength squad for series beginning on Thursday.
After last playing a T20 international for India over a year ago, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made a comeback in the shorter format for the three-match series against Afghanistan, thus brightening their chances of playing the next T20 World Cup in June. Rohit and Virat had last played in the shortest format in November 2022, their last game being India’s semifinal loss during the T20 World Cup in Australia.
This paper had reported last week that both senior batsmen had informed the selectors about their availability. Rohit has been named skipper, a role all-rounder Hardik Pandya had stepped into after the last T20 World Cup. But with Hardik injured the selectors went with Rohit.
However, it waits to be seen if Rohit will continue to lead once Hardik, who has had injury issues, is fit. The No.1 ranked T20 batsman, Suryakumar Yadav also missed out because of injury. Top order batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad was also unavailable for selection because of a fractured finger.
In Hardik’s absence, Suryakumar had captained in the five-match series at home against Australia and also the three games in South Africa in December.
The team was picked after chief selector Ajit Agarkar had travelled to South Africa during the Test series.
A source said that IPL form will be key before the team is picked for the T20 World Cup to be played in the United States and West Indies in June. India have not won an ICC trophy since MS Dhoni captained the side to the Champions Trophy title in 2013.
Sharma’s aggression at the top of the order during the 50-over World Cup, which gave the team flying starts, made it hard for the selectors to ignore his form. Kohli has also been in sublime touch in ODIs and went past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most ODI centuries during the World Cup at home. Rohit has a T20 strike rate of 129.24 while Kohli’s is 137.96.
After India fell at the final hurdle losing to Australia in the 50-over World Cup, Rohit Sharma had said: “It gives you the motivation to get back and start working again and look for another ultimate prize.”
Jadeja, pace duo rested
Meanwhile, as reported by this paper, the selection committee has rested pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, who were main architects of the Indian bowling line-up in the recently concluded South Africa series. The selection committee wanted to give them a break before they make it back for the five-match Test series against England at home.
Deepak Chahar who pulled out of the games against South Africa because of personal emergency was not included.
The selection committee has also rested spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was part of India’s touring party to South Africa. The Indian pace battery consists of Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan. With Pandya yet to recover from injury, the selectors have picked Mumbai’s Shivam Dube.
The team also includes two other all-rounders in Washington Sundar and Axar Patel. Apart from these two, the spin department also has Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi. For the wicketkeeper’s slot, Sanju Samson has to fight it out with Jitesh Sharma.
Wicketkeeper Sharma was part of the T20I series against Australia and South Africa recently and retains his spot while Samson hasn’t played a T20 game for India since the series against Ireland in August — one in which India fielded a second string team.
It’s not clear why Ishan Kishan has been left out for the series after he had pulled out during the South Africa series citing ‘personal reasons’. Samson scored his maiden ODI century against South Africa in Paarl.
Why no KL Rahul?
While Rohit and Kohli have earned a call-up, KL Rahul has to wait for now. Rahul has played almost all T20 International games as an opener. But with Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kohli and Rohit in the squad, the top order slots are taken. The selectors believe wicketkeepers Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson are better suited as finishers, so Rahul missed out on a slot down the order too. The upcoming IPL will serve as a shoot-out for the two wicket-keeper’s slots for the World Cup.
Inputs: Venkata Krishna B
Source:indianexpress.com