Virat Kohli Opts Out of 1st T20I vs Afghanistan Due to Personal Reasons

Mohali: In a much-anticipated return to T20I cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to feature in the upcoming India vs Afghanistan series. The star batsmen, absent from T20Is since the 2022 T20 World Cup, where India reached the semi-finals, are making a comeback ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, Kohli will be absent from the first T20I against Afghanistan due to personal reasons, as revealed by coach Rahul Dravid.

Reportedly, the BCCI selectors engaged in discussions with Kohli about his role in the T20I format, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar meeting him in Cape Town. While it’s unclear if similar discussions took place with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, Dravid announced that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma would open the batting in Kohli’s absence for the first T20I.

Virat Kohli, with a remarkable T20I record, boasts 4008 runs in 115 matches at an average of 52.73 and a strike rate of 137.96. Recently, he became the first batter to score 2000 runs in seven different calendar years during India’s Test against South Africa, where he contributed 76 runs in a challenging innings.

Afghanistan, now at full strength after resolving contractual issues with key players, aims to build on their ODI success and make a mark in a format that suits them well. While Rohit and Kohli are certain picks for the T20 World Cup squad, their performances against Afghanistan will set the tone for India’s campaign in the upcoming tournament.