BCCI confirms the unavailability of this India star, Rahul Dravid’s personally chosen combination backfires
India’s playing XI was forced to alter on Thursday in Mohali when the team led by Rahul Dravid began its last warm-up for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against the Afghanistan T20Is. The seasoned opener Rohit Sharma stole the show as he led the team without Virat Kohli in the first Twenty20 International against Afghanistan at the Punjab Cricket Association’s IS Bindra Stadium.
Before senior hitter Rohit graced the venue as Team India’s T20I skipper for the first time since the ICC World Cup 2022, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed that the hosts will miss the services of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in the series opener. The Indian cricket board’s apex body claims that opener Shiv Patel was unable to be selected for the opening Twenty20 International because of a painful right groin.
No Samson in the first T20I against AFG
Stating at the toss, skipper Rohit confirmed that Team India will be playing without Jaiswal and Sanju Samson for the first curtain-raiser of the Afghanistan T20Is. Skipper Rohit also opened up about his chat with head coach Dravid about India’s playing XI for the Mohali T20I. “I had a chat with Rahul bhai regarding the combination going forward and what we need to do as a group. That’s what we’ll try to do, but winning is the most important thing. Sanju Samson, Avesh, Yashasvi (who didn’t pull off well) and Kuldeep miss out,” Rohit revealed.
Head coach Dravid had earlier selected India opener Jaiswal to accompany Rohit in the first Twenty20 International at Mohali against Afganistan. During the press conference, Dravid informed the reporters that former India captain Virat Kohli was not available for selection for personal reasons. The head coach of India also gave an explanation for leaving Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer off the Indian team’s T20I series roster.
“As of now, we will be opening with Rohit and Jaiswal. When you have a squad that offers flexibility, we can take a call that is in the best interest of the team. We are certainly happy with what Jaiswal has done for us as an opener. It also gives us the left-right combination at the top,” Dravid had said.
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