Rahul Dravid, the coach of the Indian cricket team, has officially announced that Virat Kohli, the star batter, will not be eligible for selection in the forthcoming first T20I match against Afghanistan. Dravid made this statement during the pre-match press conference before the match, scheduled for January 11 in Mohali. Kohli, who recently returned to the T20I side following the 2022 World Cup, has decided to withdraw from the playing XI due to personal circumstances.
However, Dravid has confirmed that Kohli will be available for selection in the subsequent two T20Is, which are set to be played on January 14 and 17. In the absence of Kohli, the team can consider including talented batters Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh in the playing XI, creating an element of excitement in the lineup decisions for the upcoming clash with Afghanistan.
Skipper Rohit Sharma is poised to return to the shortest format, marking his comeback since the 2022 World Cup semi-final against England. The selectors' decision to bring back the experienced duo of Kohli and Rohit for the upcoming T20Is seems to have been influenced by the absence of key players such as Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav due to injury, as well as the non-selection of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.
Regarding Afghanistan, captain Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the upcoming T20Is series against India as he recovers from a back injury. Ibrahim Zadran, who recently led the team in the UAE T20Is, has also been appointed as the captain for the India series.
India's T20Is series against Afghanistan carries significant importance as it signifies the team's final international assignment in the format before the T20Is World Cup, which is scheduled for June later this year. The series also serves as a crucial platform for players to refine their skills in preparation for the upcoming tournament. After the T20I series, Indian players will be participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with Rohit Sharma representing Mumbai Indians and Virat Kohli associated with Royal Challengers Bangalore, two prominent teams in the league.
Although Rohit and Kohli's absence from recent T20Is is notable, their impressive performances in other formats, particularly in the ODI World Cup, undoubtedly position India as a top contender to triumph in the tournament with their inclusion in the squad.
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