India’s T20I set-up underwent wholesale changes since the team lost to England by 10 wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final. Neither Rohit Sharma nor Virat Kohli has donned the blue jersey in the shortest format since then as the management gave the leadership responsibility while a bunch of youngsters – including Shivam Mavi, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikead, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma & Rinku Singh – was given multiple opportunities. The vision was to head into the next generation of Indian cricket and the T20s seemed to be the desired format to begin with. But as the T20 World Cup 2024 is approaching, the future of the senior stars will be in focus again.
India are scheduled to play 6 T20Is – 3 each against South Africa and Afghanistan – before heading into the T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean next year. The trio of Rohit, Kohli and Bumrah have opted out of the white ball series in the Rainbow Nation which leaves the selectors with just 3 games to analyze the strength and finalize the 15-man squad.
According to Dainik Jagran, Rohit and Bumrah are automatic choices for the forthcoming showpiece event in the West while Kohli’s spot is not guaranteed.
It has also been learned that the BCCI officials – Secretary Jay Shah, Vice President Rajeev Shukla and Treasurer Ashish Shelar – and the selectors present in a meeting have informed captain Rohit Sharma that they want him to lead the team in T20 World Cup 2024.
It’s a fact that the 36-year-old hasn’t played the format for a year now but his stellar show with the bat and commendable leadership in the recently-concluded ODI World Cup at home seems to have convinced the selectors to let him have another crack at an ICC event.
Ishan at No. 3 in place of Kohli
The report further stated that the selectors and the board want a player who can play attacking cricket from the word go. As of now, Ishan Kishan appears to be the frontrunner to grab the No.3 spot. The wicketkeeper-batter played a few good knocks in the home series against Australia which India pocketed 4-1.
If Kishan gets the nod for the No. 3 spot then the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to fill the remaining slots. Thus, leaving no place for Kohli. However, a BCCI official told Jagran that the senior members of the board will have a discussion with Kohli soon regarding his plans for the T20Is.
Kohli – the leading scorer in T20Is
With 4008 runs in 115 games, Virat Kohli is currently the highest run-getter in the shortest format of the game followed by Rohit Sharma (3853). His performance in the IPL 2024, scheduled to be held just before the World Cup, will be considered. But Kohli generally opens for his franchise and as far as the top two spots in the Indian team are concerned, either Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shubman Gill is likely to partner Rohit at the top of the order, the official told Jagran.
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