Rohit Sharma made a long-awaited return to the T20Is after 14 months with the first match of the India vs Afghanistan series in Mohali on Thursday. It was his first match since the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss against England. Since that game, there have been speculations on whether Rohit Sharma will continue at all in the T20I format. With Rohit Sharma not featuring in any T20I match, those speculations got more air.
However, for the last T20I series that India are playing before the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who also did not feature in the format in more than a year, were roped in. It shows that the veteran duo is in the plans for the T20 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma's comments at the toss indicated that he is very much in the running to lead the side at the T20 World Cup.
"A lot to gain from these three games. We haven't had too much T20 cricket. Leading up to the WC we have IPL and stuff but international game is international game. Trying to achieve a few things. I wasn't in the team for the entire last year, but I've been talking to Rahul bhai about what we are doing and understand what we need to do as a group," Rohit Sharma said.
However, Rohit Sharma's stay at the crease was short-lived after a horrible mix-up with fellow opener Shubman Gill. On the second ball of the first over by Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rohit Sharma was run out on 0.
Rohit was absolutely furious with Gill after the dismissal. He even gesticulated something at the youngster before returning to the dug out. Rohit drove the ball to the mid-off and called for the single. But Gill kept watching the ball and did not move. By then, Rohit had ran to the other end. Afghanistan fielders made no mistake and ran Rohit Sharma out.