Xtra Time Web Desk: Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar has travelled to Cape Town to have a discussion with both captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of picking the Indian squad for three match T20I series against Afghanistan starting from January 11. Agarkar will also discuss about what their plans are regarding playing in T20 format is concerned for the country. Both players have been absent from the T20 format since the World Cup semifinal loss to England last year in November 2022.
Agarkar, along with selectors Shiv Sunder Das and Salil Ankola, who are already in South Africa plans to consult with head coach Rahul Dravid and captains Rohit and Kohli during the second Test in Cape Town before finalizing the squad for the series against Afghanistan.
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It is also learnt that approximately 30 players will be shortlisted and their performances will be closely monitored before the selection of squad for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States in June.
Injuries to Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya complicate the selection process, with the Afghanistan series considered insufficient to gauge player readiness. The first month of the IPL is expected to be decisive in determining the squad. The BCCI acknowledges its inability to instruct franchises on managing players’ workloads, leading to the close monitoring of 25 to 30 potential picks during the IPL. Contingency plans for injuries or fitness issues are in place, although Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya stands out as a player without an immediate replacement.
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