Mohali: India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, confirmed on Wednesday that Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal would be the opening pair in the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali. Rohit Sharma, making his comeback to the format after nearly 14 months, will lead the side, while Virat Kohli remains unavailable for the opening T20I due to “personal reasons.”
Rohit Sharma’s last appearance in a T20I was in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide. Jaiswal, who has been holding the opening position in the shortest format since August last year, will partner with Sharma for the top two slots in the first T20I.
Dravid emphasized the importance of a left-right combination in the opening order and expressed satisfaction with Jaiswal’s performance as an opener. With Shubman Gill set to take the no.3 role in Kohli’s absence, Dravid did not rule out the possibility of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opening together in the future.
The former Indian captain highlighted that the selection process is based on a player’s ability to handle different circumstances and not solely on the desire for a left-right combination. Dravid also mentioned the addition of players like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, providing flexibility to the squad.
As India prepares for the T20I series against Afghanistan, the team management is keeping its options open, and Dravid expressed confidence in the skill sets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to adapt to different challenges in the game.
The first T20I between India and Afghanistan is set to take place in Mohali, and fans are eager to witness the performance of the opening pair and the overall team under Rohit Sharma’s leadership.
