The tension surrounding superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s T20I future was finally resolved on Sunday as Team India revealed their lineup for the Afghanistan series. After a 14-month break, both veterans were welcomed back into the T20I lineup with a 16-man team, with Rohit serving as captain.
Beginning on January 11, the Men in Blue will play three home games against the Afghans as the last Twenty20 Internationals before the World Cup in June.
Though they are among India’s most skilled white-ball hitters of this generation, opinions on the pair’s selection were divided. Some thought the side had regressed a few steps, while others felt that their background and experience made their choice an easy one once it became available.
It also raised the question of whether a few players who saw little success in Twenty20 Internationals before being shunned should get another opportunity to play before Kohli and Rohit. Whether or whether this choice is beneficial will depend on how the 2024 T20 World Cup turns out, but discussions over the choice won’t end there.
In light of this, let’s examine three players who, in the Afghanistan series, earned more T20 opportunities than Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
1. Rahul Tripathi
T20Is didn’t select Rahul Tripathi and this seemed to fuel his performance in the recent IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games.
In IPL 2022, the 32-year-old brought his A-game, scoring 413 runs with an average of 37.55 and a rapid fire rate of 158.24. Rahul Tripathi big debut in T20Is for India was at the start of the previous year.
Serving as a powerhouse of drive as player No.3, Rahul Tripathi didn’t hold back. During only his second turn at bat for India against Sri Lanka, Rahul Tripathi scored an impressive 16-ball 35. Showing defiant spirit, he also made a match-altering 44 off 22 deliveries in the decisive home series match against New Zealand in February prior year. But fate had other plans, and that was the last time Rahul Tripathi played for India.
From Ranchi, Rahul Tripathi didn’t do well in the 2023 IPL season. For the SunRisers Hyderabad, he only made 273 runs. His average was less than 23 with a strike rate of 128.17. His SMAT season wasn’t great either. Rahul Tripathi only averaged 21.66 in seven games.
But having hit big hits in two of his five Twenty20 International innings for India, Rahul Tripathi should have been a strong candidate for the Afghanistan series.
2. Deepak Hooda
Deepak Hooda, another batsman, struggled mainly because of his disappointing 2023 IPL stint and being out of place in T20Is.
The 28-year-old was a fixture in the Indian T20I team in 2022 after great performances in domestic matches and a standout IPL season. Hooda showed an impressive willingness to bat at No.6, despite doing well at one drop.
In a game against Ireland, he impressively scored 108 from just 57 balls while batting at No.3. While there, he averaged a solid 49 with a quick strike rate of 166.10. But, these large numbers dwindled over time because he didn’t face as many deliveries once he started batting lower in the lineup.
Hooda’s prospects of being selected decreased after a miserable 2023 IPL season in which he averaged less than eight runs at a strike rate of 93.33. The Rajasthan batsman hasn’t played for India since.
To restore form, Hooda had a wonderful campaign overall and struck a record-breaking 180 against Karnataka in the most recent Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) semi-final. During the SMAT season, he also averaged above 35 with a strike rate of 135.60.
The most recent T20I squad choices, however, suggest that Hooda may have been overlooked in the overall scheme of things.
3. Nitish Rana
Last year’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) leader, Nitish Rana, may feel let down. Despite his high talent, he’s had few chances to play internationally.
He’s known for his steady performance in IPL’s challenging middle-order. He was picked for the Sri Lankan games in 2021 but only got to play two T20Is and one ODI.
Since 2019, 30-year-old Rana has racked up 340+ runs each IPL season. In 2023, he outdid himself, going past 400. As KKR’s respected leader, he achieved 413 runs, averaging 31.77 and a strike rate above 140.
In the most recent SMAT competition, he was likewise dependable for Uttar Pradesh, averaging almost 34 over seven games. But despite all the talk about how the middle order needs a left-hander, Rana’s name is hardly brought up.
With all the players out due to injury and rest, the Afghanistan series would have been the perfect setting for Rana to spark his international career again.
He played his last game for India more than two years ago. Even after showing excellent batting skills these past months, we’re unsure. Will Rana make it back to national selection?