Virat Kohli’s return to the India T20 squad may have evoked a lot of sharp reactions but the Indian team management has a specific plan in mind.
Head coach Rahul Dravid and selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar are learnt to have spoken to Kohli to clarify his role. It is understood that there was a discussion between them in Cape Town after the second Test ended in less than two days.
Kohli, along with captain Rohit Sharma, is returning to the T20 fold after more than a year. Both players had last featured in the side during their 2022 World Cup semi-final loss to England.
There has been talk that Rohit and Kohli could open the innings with Shubman Gill coming in at No.3. Kohli’s strike-rate of 137.96 in the shortest format has often stirred a debate about his game plan.
The T20I series against Afghanistan begins in Mohali on Thursday and will throw some light on the team’s plans for the World Cup in June. The squad will assemble by Wednesday morning and the first practice session will be held in the evening.
The team management has a plan in mind and similar discussions are expected to take place with other players, including Rohit and Gill, during the course of the three-match series.
The selectors have made it clear that the performance in the first half of the IPL will be monitored before deciding on the World Cup squad.
