Due to the uncertainty surrounding Hardik Pandya‘s fitness, Saba Karim believes the selectors may have returned
Rohit Sharma is India’s captain for the forthcoming T20I series against Afghanistan and maybe for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The Men in Blue will meet Afghanistan in three Twenty20 Internationals, the first of which will be played on Thursday, January 11 at Mohali.
On Sunday, the Indian selectors named a 16-man team for the series, with Rohit at the lead and Virat Kohli back in the mix.
During a Sports 18 debate, Karim was questioned if the decision to return Rohit and Kohli suggests that the two will also be part of the T20 World Cup team. He answered in the affirmative, adding:
There is no longer any question. The inclusion of both of these players versus Afghanistan indicates a significant shift in the selectors’ views.
They believe they will need experience to compete in the World Cup. That is why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter went on to say:
There’s one more thing. Until recently, the selectors had placed their trust in Hardik Pandya as captain, but his ailment has caused concerns.
That is why the selectors have returned to Rohit Sharma as a skipper and batsman to provide consistency.
Pandya injured his ankle against Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup league stage.
Hardik Pandya – Saba Karim believes Rohit Sharma’s aggressiveness in ODIs would be his key focus in his return to T20Is
Saba Karim believes Rohit Sharma’s disruptive style at the top of the order in ODIs helped him.
Along with that, Rohit Sharma has been vocal about his aggressiveness in one-day international cricket. That is still another important factor.
The cricketer-turned-commentator went on to say that if Rohit was chosen, Virat Kohli would almost certainly be included in the squad as well. He reasoned as follows:
You can’t leave Virat out of the team once you’ve chosen Rohit. Then, in addition to Rohit, you must put Virat in the lineup for even more steadiness and match-winning innings.
Kohli was the leading run-scorer in both the T20 World Cup in 2022 and the ODI World Cup in 2023.
Although Rohit had a poor run in the last T20 World Cup, he was at his ferocious best in last year’s ODI World Cup and would seek to maintain that aggressive attitude in the shorter format as well.
Also Read: Aakash Chopra on the non-selection of all-rounders for the T20Is between India and Afghanistan