India’s all-format wicketkeeper KL Rahul was excluded from the squad named for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Afghanistan. The power packed squad led by skipper Rohit Sharma features the return of other senior players to the shortest format side, including Virat Kohli for the IND vs AFG T20Is.
IND vs AFG: What dropping KL Rahul could mean?
The selectors chose to ignore the stellar KL Rahul from the squad, naming Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma instead. While the Karnataka player has been India’s all-format wicketkeeper over the last few months, his place in the T20I squad has always been up for contention.
The keeper-batter has 2265 runs to his name from 72 T20Is, averaging 37.75. It is pertinent to note that it has been a little over a year since Rahul has played a T20I now. His last T20 appearance for the Men in Blue was against Australia at the T20 World Cup in November 2022 at Adelaide.
With India’s eyes firmly set on the T20 World Cup 2024, the side’s preparation for the marquee event kick starts with the series against the neighours. With the exact time of Rishbah Pant’s return still unknown, it is without doubt that KL will don the gloves for India in ODIs and Tests. However, when it comes to T20s, there are other keepers in line to take over the reigns from Rahul.
India Squad: 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
Apart from Bumrah-Shami-Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja has also been rested. Hadik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are out injured.
