Rohit Sharma is preparing to captain India in the forthcoming three-game T20I series against Afghanistan. The BCCI announced this on Sunday (January 7). This event signals Rohit’s re-entry into the shortest format. He is joined by Virat Kohli, who also last played in the T20 World Cup semifinal against England at the Adelaide Oval in 2022.
Remarkably, the selectors have named Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson as the designated wicketkeepers for this series. This series is critical as it is India’s last T20I series prior to the 2024 World Cup.
Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are healing from injuries. This means Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj – all key players – aren’t in the team for the upcoming series.
Three players who can bat at No. 3 for India vs Afghanistan are examined here:
3. Shubman Gill
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma might both walk out to start the innings as he makes a return. In his limited T20 international history, left-hander Jaiswal has already demonstrated a great deal of promise and desire, and India would welcome having a left-hander at the top of the order.
Shubman Gill, who was playing brilliantly in the most recent IPL, now occupies the third position. In the first six overs of the Gujarat Titans match, he redefined his power hitting, and the home pitch would be ideal for his strokeplay. Gill has the muscle to pursue the top 3 and should use this chance to take the number 3 slot for himself.
2. Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma, who made his debut for India earlier this year, amassed 2,000 runs in 68 matches played in the 20-over format in South Africa last month, completing 66 innings. With a remarkable average of more than 40, he consistently hits at a rate that is higher than 140. In addition, his impressive resume includes 14 scores higher than 50, including a century.
If India wants to dismiss bowlers in the first six overs, Varma might be the ideal number three. He had hard times in South Africa, but he had the fortitude to stick with things and seek out limits. Varma may also be a useful anchor in the middle overs if Rohit decides to set the tone.
1. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli showcased a superb game against Pakistan during the previous T20 World Cup. Now, he’s stepping back into this format. Virat Kohli entering in the number 3 spot, but spectators will closely watch his strategy against spinners.
The 35-year-old hasn’t attempted to attack the slower bowlers in the IPL for an odd reason; in the middle overs of the IPL 2022, Virat Kohli made an aggressive shot with a strike rate of 105 in one out of every eight balls. For all of his game knowledge, Virat Kohli should really go at the bowlers in the opening six overs, especially if spinners try to stop him. This has to become better.
In the 50-over World Cup, he had a completely different job to play, but in the Twenty20 Internationals, India has an abundance of strength, and the top order must either flatten bowling attacks or clear the way.
