Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s T20I Comeback Raises Eyebrows, Dasgupta Expresses Concern

Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta expressed surprise at the selection of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Afghanistan T20Is, suggesting that he believed the Indian team had moved beyond the duo following consecutive disappointments in the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups.

Rohit and Kohli, having been absent from T20Is since the T20 World Cup 2022, returned to the Indian T20I side for a 3-match series against Afghanistan. The seasoned players’ comeback is seen as a strategic move by selectors in preparation for the T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled for June in the West Indies and the United States.

Despite his surprise, Dasgupta acknowledged Rohit’s impressive performance in the 50-over World Cup, suggesting that the captain’s form may have influenced the decision.

“I thought that the team has moved on in the T20I format. I am a little surprised. But the way that Rohit Sharma has played in the 50-over World Cup was great. The main criticism with the senior India players was the lack of intent in the T20 format,” Dasgupta said to Star Sports.

While questioning the decision, the 46-year-old emphasized the importance of Kohli’s experience, particularly on challenging West Indies pitches. Dasgupta highlighted the need to consider the nature of the pitches, which have displayed a tendency to offer spin and exhibit slower characteristics recently.

“We saw that with Rohit, and with Virat, we have to keep in mind what will be the pitches that we might get in West Indies. Are we expecting 180-200 pitches or something around 160s?” he added, contemplating the strategic implications of the duo’s return.

The captaincy role in T20Is has undergone a transition from Hardik Pandya to Suryakumar Yadav in the absence of the former. Now, with Rohit and Kohli back in the mix, India faces the challenge of reshuffling their lineup once again as they prepare for the T20 World Cup 2024.

“So, for me, it was surprising because I thought that we were looking beyond these two players in the T20 format,” concluded Deep Dasgupta, echoing the sentiments of many fans and analysts as India navigates the complexities of team composition in the lead-up to the global T20 extravaganza.

–IANS