Xtra Time Web Desk: With the South Africa series over the focus now shifts to the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan at home commencing from January 11. This will be the last bilateral T20I series for India before the T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean and USA in June.
All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, whether they make themselves available for the T20I series against Afghanistan. According to a report in Indian Express, both Rohit and Virat have conveyed their availability for selection in T20 Internationals, despite their absence from the format since the 2022 T20 World Cup.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee is set to convene on Friday to finalize the squad for the upcoming three T20 matches against Afghanistan and the initial two Tests against England. The series against Afghanistan is scheduled to commence on January 11, followed by the five-match Test series against England starting on January 25.
Due to injuries sidelining Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, the selection committee faces the task of appointing a new captain for the T20 matches. Additionally, there is speculation about resting fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming T20I games against Afghanistan to ensure their peak fitness for the subsequent Test series against England.
It is unlikely that there will be too many changes from the squad that played in the recent three match T20I series against South Africa.
The selection committee, comprising SS Das, Salil Ankola, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, is currently in Cape Town overseeing the developments.