India and Afghanistan to play 1st T20I on January 11 in Mohali.
Kohli last played a T20I against England in the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Alongside the 35-year-old batter, Rohit Sharma also made a return to the squad and is expected to lead the side in the opening match in Mohali.
In the absence of Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma will open the innings for India. Kohli has not traveled to Mohali with team India. Dravid, however, confirmed that Virat Kohli will be available for selection for the second and third T20I.
Coach Rahul Dravid also confirmed that India's World Cup squad selection won't be entirely dependent on the players' performance in the T20I series vs Afghanistan, adding that the IPL will serve as a platform for players to make a case for World Cup selection.
(PTI inputs)