Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India’s star batter Virat Kohli will miss the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali on Thursday, January 11 due to personal reasons. Kohli, who recently marked his much-anticipated return to the Indian T20I squad, will not be available for the T20I series opener, as confirmed by head coach Rahul Dravid during the pre-match press conference in Mohali.
There are some speculations on social media which suggests Kohli might have skipped the first T20I because of the birthday of his daughter Vamika which is on January 11.
The 33-year-old batting maestro’s last appearance in the T20I format dates to the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against England at the Adelaide Oval in Australia. Kohli’s absence will no doubt be a huge disappointment for the fans.
Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar recently travelled to Cape Town during the second and final test to discuss with Virat and Rohit to know what their plans are about playing in T20 format. Both Rohit and Virat expressed their availability in the shorter format following which they were named in the T20I side for the three-match series against Afghanistan.
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With Kohli missing the first T20I, Shubman Gill is likely bat at no.3, with captain Rohit Sharma opening the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The three match T20I series against Afghanistan will be India’s bilateral series in the shorter format before the T20 World Cup.
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