Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are among the 30 players who will be monitored during IPL 2024 according to chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. After the heartbreak of losing the World Cup final, Team India is looking to move on and focus on the T20 World Cup later this year.
Recent reports suggest that Rohit Sharma He is likely to lead the Indian team in the mega event. He is also likely to lead the team in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan with Hardik Pandya rehabbing due to injury issues.
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli played their last T20I matches for India in the T20 World Cup last year. Since then, India has played the T20I series against Australia and South Africa under Suryakumar Yadav with Hardik Pandya injured. Pandya is also likely to miss the T20I series against Afghanistan.
Around 30 players, including Kohli and Rohit, will be monitored during IPL 024 to keep an eye on the T20 World Cup 2024. Ajit Agarkar is likely to speak to the two senior players before announcing the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series. It will be interesting to see if both are named for the home T20I series against Afghanistan leading up to the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are not fit. The series about Afghanistan won’t tell you anything. Everything will be decided on the basis of the first month of IPL,” he said. A senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
With the IPL approaching, BCCI officials know that they cannot tell any franchise to utilize the best players optimally. Over the years, the BCCI has tried to manage the workload of key players during the IPL, but it has not worked in a positive manner.
“The BCCI can never tell a franchise to manage the workload of a star player unless it involves injury management.” the source added.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli likely to return for Afghanistan T20Is: reports
Closely following the T20 World Cup in June, the BCCI is looking to create a pool of 25-30 players who will compete for selection for the mega event. SKY and Hardik’s injuries have made it almost mandatory for the team management to bring back Rohit as T20I skipper for the historic home series.
With Afghanistan’s rising status in international cricket, the BCCI may not want to take any risks against the Afghans who put up a competitive performance in the recently concluded World Cup.
With India scheduled to play a home Test series against England, the issue of workload management will be a hot topic of discussion. India did not get off to a good start to their 2023-35 Tes World Championship cycle as they lost the first Test against South Africa. Therefore, beating England at home will be imperative for the hosts to move up the points table.
Meanwhile, India plays South Africa in the second Test in Cape Town looking to tie the series. They are yet to win a Test series in South Africa and blew the opportunity after the first Test loss.
Also Read: IND Vs AFG: Watch: Hardik Pandya works hard in the gym to regain fitness as he prepares for his comeback
