• India will take on Afghanistan in a three-match home T20I series commencing from January 11.

  • BCCI is likely to announce a new captain for the Afghan challenge, with Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav grappling with injuries.

IND vs AFG: Injuries to Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav; BCCI can look for these players as captains
Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav (Image Source: Twitter)

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) gears up to announce the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, the cricketing fraternity is abuzz with speculation regarding who will don the captain’s hat. The primary choices, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are unfortunately sidelined due to injuries, leaving the BCCI in a captaincy conundrum.

With this being India’s last assignment before the IPL and the crucial T20 World Cup 2024 on the horizon, the stakes are high, and fans eagerly await the decision.

Injury woes for Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav

Hardik and Suryakumar, both integral to India‘s T20I setup with recent experience of captaincy stints, are on the injury list, prompting the BCCI to consider resting them for the Afghanistan series. This leaves a leadership void, and the cricket board faces the challenging task of identifying suitable replacements for the captaincy role.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: A stalwart comeback?

Speculation is rife regarding the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the T20I arena. Since India’s exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup, the duo has refrained from featuring in the shortest format. With the T20 World Cup 2024 approaching, fans are keen to see if BCCI provides an opportunity for Rohit and Kohli to showcase their prowess and stake a claim for a spot in the upcoming mega-event.

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Potential captaincy contenders for Afghanistan series

1. Rohit Sharma

If Rohit makes a comeback, he seems the most likely candidate to lead the Indian side. Having recently captained India to the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 and demonstrated leadership skills in drawing a Test series in South Africa, Rohit has the experience and backing of fans and experts alike.

2. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah, known for his lethal bowling, has already captained the Indian side in Ireland last year, leaving a positive impression with his strategic acumen. Bumrah’s leadership skills make him a strong contender for the captaincy role, and this series could be a chance for him to further establish himself as a leader.

3. Shubman Gill

Another intriguing option is the talented Shubman Gill. A key player across formats, Gill could be handed the captaincy with an eye on the future. This series could provide a platform for him to showcase his leadership skills and stake a claim for a more significant role in the team.

Also READ: Here are the updated WTC 2023-25 rankings after Australia’s clean sweep over Pakistan

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Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.