Batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s inclusion was the highlight of India’s T20I squad announced on Sunday (January 7) for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan.
While both of them returned to the T20I side for the first time since November 2022, KL Rahul was once again overlooked by the selection committee.
Just like Rohit and Kohli, Rahul last appeared in the shortest format for India in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against England.
A day after the team selection, former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra called for KL Rahul’s inclusion in the T20I team.
"Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli were India's top three in the 2022 World Cup. Among them, KL Rahul has been dropped or has not been picked, there is no clarity, but he is not there. There can be a discussion on that as well," said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.
KL Rahul has been in fine form since his comeback to the team following a long injury layoff. He shone in India's Asia Cup triumph, played his role to perfection in the middle-order in the ODI World Cup and recently led India to an ODI series win in South Africa.
The wicketkeeper-batter then carried his brilliance to the longest format as he slammed a stunning century on a tough pitch in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Centurion.
Chopra suggested the possibility of fitting Rahul in the T20I middle order, akin to his role in ODIs.
"His strike rate in T20Is is more than 135, so that is not bad. There are no vacant opening positions in any case, and you play him in the middle in ODIs as well, so you could have done that here too. You play him down the order even in Tests now. However, you said you need to make some changes at least," he remarked.
The three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan is slated to get underway on January 11 in Mohali. Indore and Bengaluru will host the second and third games on January 14 and January 17, respectively.
The Afghanistan series will be India’s last T20I assignment before the T20 World Cup 2024 in June.
