Virat Kohli to Sit Out T20 Opener Against Afghanistan for Personal Reasons

In a surprising development, star Indian batsman Virat Kohli is set to miss the first T20 international against Afghanistan due to undisclosed “personal reasons,” according to coach Rahul Dravid. Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma are making a comeback to the T20 squad after a year’s absence, gearing up for the T20 World Cup in June. Dravid confirmed that Kohli would join the team for the second and third T20 matches. The opening combination will feature Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Dravid expressing satisfaction over Jaiswal’s performance as an opener, emphasizing the left-right combination at the top.

The T20 series also provides an opportunity for IPL standout Rinku Singh, who made his T20 debut for India in December, showcasing impressive power-hitting skills. Dravid commended Singh’s role as a finisher and highlighted the series as a chance for his continued development. Addressing the omission of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, Dravid refuted rumors of disciplinary issues, stating that Iyer missed out due to tough competition in the batting lineup, while Kishan had requested a break in South Africa and was not yet available for selection. The T20 series against Afghanistan is scheduled to kick off in Mohali on Thursday, followed by matches in Indore and Bengaluru on January 12 and 17, respectively.