‘That’s why the selectors have gone back….’ – Former India cricketer pinpoints reason behind Rohit Sharma’s return in T20Is

The Indian Cricket Board has announced the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series, which is all set to take place on January 11 in Mohali. Notably, the three matches of the T20I series marked the comeback of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have not played a single T20I game since India’s 10-wicket loss in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final clash against England.

However, former India cricketer Saba Karim had pinpointed the reasons for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s comebacks in the squad. The wicketkeeper-batsman feels selectors need experience in the T20 World Cup 2024 owing to unknown pitch conditions, and that is the reason both batters have been included in the squad.

“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. There is another thing,” Saba Karim said during a discussion on Sports 18.

That’s why the selectors have gone back to Rohit Sharma to bring stability: Saba Karim

Meanwhile, Saba Karim feels selectors have shown faith in Hardik Pandya as the captain, but his injury has opened the door for Rohit Sharma to resume his captaincy. The well-renowned cricket commentator feels the 36-year-old skipper will bring stability as the captain and as a batter in the squad during the Afghanistan series as well as the T20 World Cup 2024, which is slated to take place on June 1 in the USA and West Indies.

“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,” he added further.

India’s Squad for T20Is against Afghanistan: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.