NEW DELHI: The recent announcement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's return to the T20I format for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan has stirred controversy, with former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta expressing concerns over the direction of the team selection.
While Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar supported the comeback, Dasgupta labeled the move as "directionless" and reminiscent of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Having opted out of T20Is since India's semi-final exit in the 2022 World Cup, Kohli and Rohit's absence allowed for the emergence of young talents such as Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Jitesh Sharma. India witnessed a transition phase, experimenting with new players and nurturing a younger squad.
However, the recall of Kohli and Rohit for the Afghanistan series has raised questions about the team's direction, especially considering the criticism faced by the senior players for their approach in the last T20 World Cup.
Dasgupta expressed surprise at the move, stating, "I thought the team had moved on from Rohit and Kohli."
Speaking to Star Sports, Dasgupta elaborated: “The main criticism was the lack of intent from the senior players in the last T20 World Cup. But then again, you need to keep in mind the kind of tracks you are expecting in the West Indies - are you expecting a 180 or 200-run wicket to 160-ish kind of tracks? To be very honest, I do not find any direction here for India in the last one year. If they had to go back to Kohli and Rohit...given the squads we had in the last one year, it is like going back to square one."
1/9:Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli return to India's T20I squad
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2/9:Comeback after 14-month gap
<p>Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last appeared in a T20I for India in the T20 World Cup semifinal against England in November 2022.</p>AFP
3/9:Rohit Sharma to lead India
Hardik Pandya's injury in the ODI World Cup and Suryakumar Yadav's ligament tear resulted in a lot of inexperience at the top of the order.Getty Images
4/9:Rohit may lead India in T20 WC too
While Rohit's chances of leading India in the T20 World Cup has considerably brightened, the development comes across as a big blow to Hardik's captaincy ambitions at the global event in June.Getty Images
5/9:Sanju Samson in the squad
The T20 squad also featured Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, who will be the two glovesmen with Ishan Kishan being ignored for the shortest format.AFP
6/9:Bumrah, Jadeja rested
Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, the two Test team certainties, have been rested and Ruturaj Gaikwad isn't fit to play yet.PTI
7/9:India's last series before the World Cup
All-rounder Shivam Dube has also been named in the squad in Hardik's absence. The Afghanistan series will be India's last before the World Cup, which takes place right after the IPL.PTI
8/9:'It's a very tough decision'
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith reckons leaving out the likes of Rohit and Kohli from any team is extremely tough.PTI
9/9:India's Squad for 3 T20Is against Afghanistan
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.PTIThe former India wicketkeeper-batter highlighted the continuity of the middle-order batting order, indicating that the core of the team remains unchanged from the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England.
Dasgupta also raised concerns about the impact on promising talents like Rinku Singh, who had showcased his abilities as a finisher in the T20 format.
With the return of Kohli, Rohit, and the expected inclusion of injured players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, Dasgupta speculated that players like Rinku Singh might miss out on a spot in the playing XI.
Dasgupta questioned the direction of India's T20I squad selection, urging clarity and a strategic approach, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon.
(With inputs from agencies)
