On January 11 in Mohali, Star India hitter Virat Kohli won’t be returning for his T20I match against Afghanistan. Personal reasons are causing him to skip the first game of the three-part T20I series this Thursday.
Rahul Dravid, Indian head coach, shared this in Wednesday’s pre-series press conference. Big hitters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to return and not everyone is thrilled. Their last T20Is game? They faced England at the 2022 T20 World Cup and it wasn’t India’s best day.
Before India’s Test series against South Africa, they had an intra-squad practice. Who was missing? Virat Kohli. Rumor has it, another personal emergency.
AB de Villiers praises India for recalling Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for T20Is
AB de Villiers spoke up about his wish to return to South Africa’s team towards his career’s end. Sadly, the team’s leaders didn’t back him.
This renowned former South African cricketer applauded India’s decision to reintroduce both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli into their T20I lineup. He’s confident that the Men in Blue need them for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA.
AB De Villiers stated the following in a video posted on his YouTube channel:
“I understand (criticism on selection of Rohit and Kohli) but at the end of the day it is a cricket World Cup. If Virat Kohli is good enough, he has to play. I don’t care whether he is managing his career due to age. 20-year-olds will understand that the likes of Rohit and Virat are needed to help India win the T20 World Cup. I wish I had that management when I was 35.”
AB de Villiers
Given that the T20 World Cup will be held shortly after the three Twenty20 Internationals against Afghanistan, the IPL 2024 season may also be a significant competition that the selectors consider.
