BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar plans to discuss matters with Captain Rohit, Head Coach Dravid, and star batsman Kohli during the 2nd Test in South Africa.
Following their final Test against South Africa starting on Wednesday in Cape Town, India will prepare for their last T20I series before the T20 World Cup in June.
After a 4-1 victory against Australia in November and a 1-1 draw against South Africa in December, the Men in Blue will face Afghanistan in a three-match series from January 11 to 17.
The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar faces a challenging decision as they select the squad for the crucial series. The significant question is whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will make a comeback to the shortest format against Afghanistan and make themselves eligible for the T20 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli express their desire to participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup
Kohli and Rohit have been absent from T20Is since November 2022, following India’s semifinal exit in the T20 World Cup against England in Australia.
Despite expectations of their return for the series in South Africa after focusing on ODIs last year, both players prolonged their break, sparking discussions about their participation in the World Cup next year.
According to a PTI report, Kohli and Rohit are eager to play in the ICC event in June. Agarkar and other selectors plan to consult with head coach Rahul Dravid, Test, and ODI captain Rohit, along with star batsman Kohli before finalizing the squad for the Afghanistan series.
It’s uncertain if Kohli and Rohit will participate in the Afghanistan series. Given the five-match England Test series starting on January 25, even if selected, it’s improbable that they would play more than a couple of matches.
The report suggests that the Afghanistan series may not provide all the answers for India’s T20 World Cup squad, and there’s a possibility that around 25-30 players will be observed during the two-month 2024 Indian Premier League season.
“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 reliable source within BCCI informed PTI under the condition of anonymity.
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