The majority of the Indian cricket fans were quite happy after the Indian squad for the 3-match T20I series against Afghanistan was announced as it marked the comeback of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20 team after a long gap of 14 months.
The selectors chose not to include both of them in the T20I squad after the semi-final match of the T20 World Cup 2022 which India lost to England and it gave an impression that the selectors have made up their minds of selecting a young squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 and they are in no mood to include the senior cricketers in the squad.
Though no official announcement was made, yet Hardik Pandya was leading the team in Rohit Sharma’s absence and many felt that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s days of playing T20I for the country were over. It was also said by many that the selectors might have decided to reduce the workload of both the cricketers as they need to prepare themselves for the ODI World Cup 2023.
Now the former Indian cricketer and former selector Saba Karim has tried to explain why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have managed to make a comeback in India’s T20 squad.
During a conversation, Saba Karim stated that there is no doubt that a big change has come in the thinking of the selectors as they have included Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Indian T20 squad. He added that the selectors might have brought back both the senior cricketers because they must have felt the need of experience in the team.
Saba Karim has given one more reason in regard to this as he says that till now, the selectors may have shown faith in Hardik Pandya but questions have been raised in relation to his injury and fitness and this may have compelled the selectors to bring back Rohit as the captain in order to bring some stability in the team.
Do you agree with the opinion of Saba Karim or do you think otherwise? Share your views.