BY: SANDEEP DHAND
11 JANUARY 2024
LUDHIANA / MOHALI
The first match of the T20 International series between India and Afghanistan is currently underway at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, Punjab, organized by the Punjab Cricket Association. Winning the toss, India has opted to bowl first. In this series, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli make their comeback, but Kohli won’t be part of the playing XI in the first match. After Hardik Pandya’s injury, Rohit has been appointed as the captain for the T20 team, a crucial role with the upcoming T20 World Cup on the horizon. The combination of Rohit and Kohli is considered pivotal for India, and Rohit’s leadership in Kohli’s absence is being recognized as significant. The series is being closely watched as a preparation ground for the upcoming T20 World Cup, where Rohit-Kohli’s roles are deemed crucial.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Umarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqui, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb ur Rahman.
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Verma, Shivam Dubey, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Rinku Singh, Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar