Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli marked their return to the Indian T20I squad after an absence of over a year. The seasoned duo had last played in T20Is during India’s semi-final clash against England in the T20 World Cup 2022.
Their comeback was announced with the 3-match IND vs AFG T20I series serving as India’s conclusive international T20 assignment preceding the much-anticipated T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled for June this year in the Caribbean islands and the United States of America.
Anticipation surrounds the duo’s potential inclusion in the T20 World Cup 2024, as fans eagerly await their impactful contributions. Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta shared insights into the positive impact that these experienced players bring to the game, especially in the not-so-batting-friendly pitches of West Indies.
“See we are talking about the return, but keep in mind that the pitches in West Indies are not so batting-friendly. Looking through the angle, it is a good thing if you are expecting a score of 160-170 as Rohit and Kohli bring stability and experience to the table. The only criticism has been for the approach, but have already seen the clarity in approach in the ODI WC” said Deep Dasgupta.
India’s performance in the West Indies pitches in the shortest format of the game has not been something really great in recent times. In the last 5-match T20I series between India and West Indies, West Indies secured an 8-wicket triumph over India, clinching the series 3-2.
The pendulum of victories swung throughout the series. India claimed a seven-wicket win in the third T20 in Providence, Guyana, before the action shifted to Florida. West Indies responded with a two-wicket victory in the second T20 at Providence Stadium, levelling the series after initially winning the opener by four runs in Tarouba, Trinidad.
