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Rohit Sharma To Lead India In Afghanistan T20Is In Pandya's Absence: Reports

image-lqj0idpzRohit Sharma (Twitter)

Rohit Sharma's sustained absence from the T20I scene might be over next month as the regular skipper could be asked to return to the helm of affairs for the three-match series against Afghanistan, starting January 11. 

According to a report in the Times of India, the 36-year-old, who hasn't played any T20Is since the conclusion of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, might be back playing the shortest format for the country via the three T20Is scheduled in Mohali, Indore and Bangalore. 

Speculations have been rife on Rohit's future in T20Is amidst the tight-lip maintained by the cricketer. 

However, it is understood that the BCCI apex council, including board secretary Jay Shah, is keen for him to come back and captain the side at next year's T20 World Cup in the Caribbean & USA. 

Rohit To Play Afghanistan T20Is?

Shah had kept the cards close to his check while speaking to the media about Rohit's fate for the biannual ICC tournament earlier in the month. But the board is expected to ask the successful captain to return as India emerge desperate to end the longstanding trophy drought. 

In the current circumstances, if premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya is unable to recover from his ankle injury rehab on time, Rohit could be making his comeback against the Afghans, considering the recent injury picked up by Pandya's fellow stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav. 

Suryakumar, who had led India to a 4-1 series win over Australia before the side drew 1-1 in T20Is in South Africa, would've been the rightful candidate to continue leading in an interim capacity. However, he has been ruled out of playing action until February with a Grade 2 ankle tear. 

During the series versus the Proteas, experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja acted as a vice-captain to Suryakumar. But the BCCI top brass isn't keen to appoint him as the next stand-in skipper and create too many captaincy hats within the group.