IND vs AFG: "GOAT Duo Is Back" - Netizens Go Crazy After Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Return To T20Is

After creating history in South Africa, the Indian cricket team selection committee has announced the 16-member squad that will take on Afghanistan in the three-match T20I series starting from January 11. The main highlight of the squad is Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the T20I side whereas Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been ruled out due to injury.

Rohit Sharma will once again lead the T20I side after the 2022 T20 World Cup semi final against England whereas Virat also will be playing his first international T20I series after 13 months. The team contains the likes of young players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, and Avesh Khan whereas senior members such as Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Shreyas Iyer have been rested from the team.

These players were also not part of the T20I squad that played against South Africa one month back. The fans had been eagerly waiting for the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the T20I side as they had been focusing on the ODIs and Tests after the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final. India faced a horrific 10-wicket loss against England.

This is India’s last international bilateral T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. India are scheduled to play their first T20 World Cup 2024 match against Ireland on June 5, 2024, whereas they will take on arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9. India would play the USA and Canada in their remaining two matches on June 12 and 15, 2024.

The return of Rohit Sharma to the T20I side will also give a clear picture of his availability for the 2024 T20 World Cup. India have been led by Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav in the T20I format since Rohit and Virat Kohli were away from the shortest international format.

? NEWS ?#TeamIndia’s squad for @IDFCFIRSTBank T20I series against Afghanistan announced ?

Rohit Sharma (C), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, W Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav,…

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 7, 2024

However, this will also increase the headache of the selectors as they will now have to fit in all the star players in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

India are yet to win an ICC title in the last ten years whereas their last T20 World Cup trophy came in the inaugural edition of the tournament which was 2007. India showcased a dominating performance during the 2023 ODI World Cup but they lost to Australia in the final after winning 10 straight games.

India’s squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan

Rohit Sharma (C), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, W Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar

Netizens go crazy after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to T20Is

The netizens on social media were full of reactions after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returned to the T20Is after 13 months. Here are some of them:

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in action for the T20I series against Afghanistan.

The GOAT duo is back…!!!!! pic.twitter.com/iWjzi51ex1

— Yogesh Yadav (@yogeshydv03) January 7, 2024

https://twitter.com/PathakRidhima/status/1743997895366578558?t=MdlJ1sT4DuM4eSQftWsgbg&s=19

KL Rahul dropped from the T20I team after two World Cups to forget, but there's a player who did even worse, but he's back in the squad, that too as a captain!

Typical @BCCI move! Lmao

— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) January 7, 2024

It's funny how everything is tried and tested between T20 World Cups and eventually it's almost the same batting lineup that takes the field.

India should have gone in with a fresh team sans any baggage for the T20 WC imo. Virat's best spot is as opener but… #INDvAFG

— Soorya Sesha (@sooryasesha7) January 7, 2024

…with Rohit back that's not going to happen. Regressive selection again before another T20 WC (and no I am not clubbing the two together. Just feel the team needs a breath of fresh air for this format. Virat won't be used at his best position either) #INDvAFG

— Soorya Sesha (@sooryasesha7) January 7, 2024

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both in the squad for the Afghanistan T20i series. Both are back.?♥️

— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) January 7, 2024

The standards are always different for batsmen and bowlers. https://t.co/Wnvd0YTT8Q pic.twitter.com/g8gg69SB6J

— Krishna Kumar (@KrishnaKRM) January 7, 2024

So Rohit and Virat have decided to play against the minnows Afghans… straight forward msg that they want to play the t20world cup… https://t.co/rW6VXULwW6

— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) January 7, 2024

What a poor decision to have Rohit back in the T20I side and that too as captain. The BCCI should have moved on from Virat as well. But once they decided to call Rohit back to the setup, there was no way they could have ignored Virat. Most likely this move means that Gill will…

— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) January 7, 2024

Hardik Pandya after both Rohit and Virat selected for T20 against Afghanistan#INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/lLnvIlgAxt

— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) January 7, 2024

Pros : Virat is back, Jitesh given another chance, No jadeja

Cons : Rohit or Gill one of them will play ?‍♂️ https://t.co/aZsAuUScKh

— Nik (@lCONlK) January 7, 2024

Rohit Sharma should do something special for the last time in this T20 world cup so that his previous image looks decent in this format in WC.

Welcome Virat Kohli ?? pic.twitter.com/VD9KqmSj2v

— ?  (@tanbir_editx) January 7, 2024

I was skeptical of Rohit coming back in T20i but in current circumstances when things are tough he has led the way..
With hardik refusing to recover this is the way to go..
Rly happy with this ..Virat coming back was a no brainer https://t.co/WZck5hnZV5

— Saurabh Desai (@sau_desai) January 7, 2024

Hardik Pandya after both Rohit and Virat selected for T20 against Afghanistan#INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/lLnvIlgAxt

— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) January 7, 2024

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play T20 WC. pic.twitter.com/UTyycmeg9N

— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss) January 7, 2024

After a break of one year, captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned to T20I. pic.twitter.com/ljGUrztzKy

— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) January 7, 2024

As expected both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play the T20 World Cup and it’s a good decision. pic.twitter.com/1bkOkWIU0G

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) January 7, 2024

Waiting for Rohit sharma and Virat Kohli partnership in T20is ❤pic.twitter.com/iCCgbAefyM

— M. (@IconicKohIi) January 7, 2024

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in T20I. It’s time to lift the trophy in June boys. ?#INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/krwFkCLQHF

— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) January 7, 2024

MSK Prasad said – “No doubt Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play T20 World Cup 2024”. (Star Sports) pic.twitter.com/KVuT1NDS2P

— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) January 7, 2024

Welcome back to Rohit Sharma and virat kohli in T20I ??#RohitSharma? #ViratKohli#ViratKohli? #COMEBACK#T20WorldCup2024 #INDvsAFGpic.twitter.com/zrU5ChUFkE

— ?? ????????  (@IFootcric68275) January 7, 2024

Indian Cricket Fans Celebrating Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Overseas Century . pic.twitter.com/krNIFLgsFl

— MAHIYANK™ ? (@Mahiyank_78) December 5, 2023

Virat Kohli had been in exceptional form in the 2022 T20 World Cup and will want to repeat the same in 2024.