NEW DELHI: Star India batter
Virat Kohli
will be unavailable for the first of three Twenty20 internationals (T20Is) against
Afghanistan
due to "personal reasons," as confirmed by coach
Rahul Dravid
on Wednesday.
Both Kohli and captain
Rohit Sharma
made a comeback to the T20 squad after being absent for more than a year. Their return coincides with the series against Afghanistan, which commences on Thursday in
Mohali
. This move is seen as part of the team's preparation for the
T20 World Cup
scheduled for June.
"Virat Kohli will miss the first game due to personal reasons," Dravid said at a press conference.
"He will be playing in the second and third T20I."
Kohli and Rohit were last seen in action in November 2022, during the T20 World Cup in Australia. Unfortunately, India faced a defeat against England in the semi-finals of that tournament.
The second T20I will be played in Indore on Sunday with the final match in Bengaluru on January 17.
Dravid also disclosed that the team will have just one T20I series before the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, he emphasised that the performance and success of players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) would play a crucial role in the team selection for the tournament.
This underscores the significance of the IPL as a platform for players to showcase their skills and stake their claim for a spot in the national squad ahead of the T20 World Cup.
(With AFP inputs)
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