IND vs AFG: Why Did Indian Selectors Go Back To Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Instead Of Hardik Pandya? Former Indian Chief Selector Reveals

Former India cricketer Saba Karim feels that the Indian selectors might have recalled Rohit Sharma to captain India in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan because of the fitness issues that keep coming up with Hardik Pandya. Rohit Sharma will potentially lead India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as he is still the official captain of the Indian team across all formats.

The Men in Blue will face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series with the first game to be played on January 11 in Mohali. The Indian selectors picked a 16-member squad for the T20I series on Sunday with Rohit Sharma leading the team and Virat Kohli also back in the shortest format for India. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma last played T20Is in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and since then, they have been aloof of this format internationally. They have been playing in the IPL during this one-year-long hiatus.

Saba Karim was asked during a discussion on Sports 18 whether the decision to recall Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in T20Is implies that the duo will also be taking part in the T20 World Cup this year. He replied in the affirmative, elaborating, “There is no doubt now. Now that you have included both of these players against Afghanistan, it means there has been a massive change in the selectors’ thinking. They feel they need experience for the World Cup. That’s why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have made a comeback.”

The former India wicketkeeper-batter added, “There is another thing. Until now, the selectors had shown faith in Hardik Pandya as a captain but questions are being raised because of Hardik Pandya’s injury. That’s why the selectors have gone back to Rohit Sharma to bring stability, both as a captain and a batter.”

Hardik Pandya Will Be Back In Action During IPL 2024

Hardik Pandya suffered an ankle injury during India’s World Cup clash against Bangladesh and has been out of action since then. He is expected to return in the IPL 2024 and he will be leading the Mumbai Indians this season as he was traded in by the Mumbai-based franchise from Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL Auctions. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has been removed from his role as MI’s skipper which was unexpected given he has won five IPL titles as a captain for Mumbai Indians.

Hardik Pandya has always been an injury-prone player and his injuries are again coming to haunt him as he could miss a captaincy stint in the T20 World Cup due to his injury. Rohit Sharma on the other hand will be determined to win the T20 World Cup and be called a World Cup-winning captain. He missed out on the ODI World Cup as India was defeated by Australia in the finals.

Hopefully, Rohit Sharma will show the same attacking intent and will bat with the same freedom in the IPL and the t20 World Cup that he displayed in the ODI World Cup 2023. He has a last chance to an ICC title for his country as a captain in the T20 World Cup and he will be determined to win it.