CRICKET
3 Indian batters who deserved to be picked against Afghanistan over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
India recently announced its squad for the T20Is against Afghanistan. The big news of the announcement was the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma back in the Indian side. The two players had not played a T20I game in the last 14 months. It has been a long time since the two senior players played for India in the shorter format. Since then, the two have been asked to concentrate on the longer formats. The two have not complained either.
The last time the two played in a T20I match was against England in the semifinal of the T20 WC 2022. However, there are opinions of some of the fans that some of the players deserved a chance in the T20I series against Afghanistan over the two senior players. The fact that the two batters have not been able to be regulars in the team has been the reason behind the opinions of the fans.
Here are the three players who probably deserved to get picked in the T20I squad of India against Afghanistan over the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
3. Rahul Tripathi
Rahul Tripathi (Source: X)
Rahul Tripathi was one of the best batters in the last few seasons of the IPL. In 2021 and 2022, the top-order batter displayed immense skills as both the finisher and an anchor. Although Tripathi did not have a good IPL in 2023, he was good enough to be given more chances, given the fact that India preferred him over the senior batters.
Tripathi had a very good strike rate in the middle overs phase. Given his aggression with the bat, Tripathi was suitable for the side. Even in the chances Tripathi got, he performed well. The right-handed batter is a good player of spin, which was perfect to face the quality young spinners of Afghanistan.
2. Deepak Hooda
Deepak Hooda (Source: X)
Deepak Hooda was considered to be a replacement for Virat in 2022. The top-order batter had a good season in the IPL 2022 for LSG. With his skills with the ball and aggression with the bat, many considered him to be a better option than Virat. In the game against Ireland, the number 3 scored a hundred and made a name for himself.
But the talented batter did not have a good season with the bat in the IPL 2023. As a result, Hooda was not picked in the series against the WI and Ireland. In recent weeks, Hooda has shown promise as a batter by performing in the SMAT and the VHT. Hence, fans expected him to be in the squad over the seniors.
1. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan (Source: X)
Ishan Kishan was not in the Test series against SA recently due to a break he had to take. Now that the star batter is available for selection, it was wise to get him back in the XI. The aggressive batter can perform against the pace and the spin well. As a result, Kishan would have been handy as a player against Afghanistan.
Moreover, the top-order batter can bat at both 3 and as an opener. With his WK skills, the talented batter would have been a better option for the balance of the side. Kishan has also been a regular in the contention for playing in the T20Is over the seniors. The fact that Kishan was available for selection and did not get picked did not go well with the fans.
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