India vs Afghanistan T20: Ahead in Leadership, Rohit and Kohli Make a Comeback
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in India’s T20I squad for the Afghanistan series after being absent for over a year. As they approach the twilight of their international cricket careers, the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024 is anticipated to be a significant chapter for this iconic duo in ICC events. In the previous ICC event, India faced heartbreak as they couldn’t clinch the title, suffering their first defeat in the 2023 World Cup final against Australia. Despite a flawless run leading up to the final, the defeat extended India’s decade-long quest for an ICC trophy.
In the absence of Rohit and Kohli, India showcased a dominant performance in the 2023 World Cup. Rohit guided the team to the final, while Kohli emerged as the tournament’s top run-scorer, setting multiple records. Following their commendable stint, both players were rested for the white-ball leg of the South Africa series. They made a triumphant return for the Test series, contributing to India’s historic victory in Cape Town.
The T20I series against Afghanistan marks the return of Rohit and Kohli to the shortest format, with their last appearance dating back to the 2022 T20 World Cup. Since then, India’s T20 landscape has witnessed significant changes, notably the rise of Hardik Pandya as a leader. Pandya, who became Rohit’s deputy and India’s stand-in captain after leading Gujarat Titans to IPL glory in 2022, played a pivotal role in shaping India’s T20I strategy post the 2022 World Cup.
During the absence of Rohit and Kohli, Pandya captained India in 16 T20Is, winning 10 matches. KL Rahul and others also took up the captaincy role, reflecting a total of seven captains in 2022. Notable among them was Jasprit Bumrah, who led the team in the Ireland series upon his return in 2023. Suryakumar Yadav later captained the Pandya-less squad in the 2023 South Africa series. Currently, both Surya and Hardik are unavailable due to injuries for the Afghanistan T20Is.
In the 25 T20Is played without Rohit and Kohli, India secured victories in 16 matches, faced defeats in seven, and experienced one tie, with a solitary abandoned game. The win percentage stood at 64%, showcasing a commendable performance. At home, India maintained an impressive record with 11 wins and three losses, resulting in a win percentage of 72.73% since 2022. In away games, India won eight and lost four out of 14, achieving a win percentage of 57.14%.
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