IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Rohit takes centre stage as Kohli opts out

India captain Rohit Sharma during a practice session ahead of the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali yesterday. Pic/PTI

The spotlight will be on the returning Rohit Sharma as his long-time colleague Virat Kohli pulled out of the opening T20I against Afghanistan due to "personal reasons" ahead of the first-ever white-ball series between the two teams, beginning here on Thursday. Kohli, though, will be available for the second and third T20 International.

Kohli out for ‘family reasons'

India head coach Rahul Dravid attributed Kohli's pull-out to "family reasons". Both stalwarts are returning to the shortest format after 14 months and will be keenly observed in the three-match rubber, which will be India's last before the T20 World Cup in June, giving the team more clarity on where it stands ahead of the ICC event in the West Indies and USA.

Virat Kohli

However, the final 15 will be picked on the basis of core group's performance in the IPL. Dravid said Rohit will open the batting with young Yashasvi Jaiswal against Afghanistan. Rohit and Kohli, after he returns, are a certainty in this squad but the accomplished duo would first like to get the most out of the games against Afghanistan, who would be without their star spinner Rashid Khan.

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Injured Rashid misses out

Rashid underwent back surgery in November last year and is still recuperating. "He is not totally fit. We will miss him in the series. We will struggle without Rashid, but one should be ready for any kind of situation," Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said on the eve of the series-opener, hoping that others in the side would step up. The focus, however, will firmly be on Rohit, easily among the biggest crowd-puller.

Dravid denies indiscipline angle in non-selection of Kishan, Iyer

Categorically denying disciplinary issues as reasons behind Ishan Kishan's non-selection into India's T20 squad to face Afghanistan, head coach Rahul Dravid on Wednesday said the left-hander will be back once he makes himself available. "Absolutely not. Ishan Kishan was not available for selection. Ishan had requested for a break in SA which we agreed to," said Dravid in his pre-match press meet ahead of the first T20I against Afghanistan. "Shreyas Iyer's case has absolutely nothing to do with any disciplinary issue. It is just that he missed out. There are a lot of batsmen in the team. He did not play in the T20s in SA as well," he said.

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