Why KL Rahul Wasn’t Included In India’s T20I Squad For The Afghanistan Series Was Expounded

The waiting game is finally over as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed India’s team for the three-match Twenty20 International Series against Afghanistan. While some fans were understandably thrilled to see players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Sanju Samson in the team, others were left wondering why wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul wasn’t included. The selection committee chose other possibilities, therefore the Karnataka boy, who has established his mark as an opener and middle-order batsman in ODIs and Test matches, was not able to get a spot in the team.

During the South Africa trip, Rahul was among the best players for India, hitting a century on the challenging Centurion ground. However, he was not selected for the Afghanistan assignment’s shortest format squad by the selection committee, which was headed by Ajit Agarkar.

Why Did KL Rahul Not Make the Afghanistan T20I Team?

Rahul was passed over for the three-match T20I series because the selectors preferred other candidates for the opening and middle-order positions, according to an Indian Express article. Although Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s rise made the fight for the two starting places more fierce, Rahul has started the majority of his Twenty20 International matches as the opener.

There was no longer a space open at the top of the batting order with players like Rohit and Kohli in the team.

The selectors felt that Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson were the stronger finishers when it came to wicket-keepers. Rahul, meanwhile, hasn’t yet assumed this function in Twenty20 Internationals. Rahul, though, will be able to establish himself as a skilled finisher who maintains wickets in the forthcoming IPL.

If the Karnataka youngster wants to be included in India’s T20 World Cup squad, he has to accept this responsibility at his team, the Lucknow Super Giants, and make sure he performs.

Regarding Ishan Kishan’s absence, not much is known. A ‘personal situation’ led the wicket-keeper batsman to request relief from the Test series against South Africa. When he would be available again and the cause for his withdrawal are currently unknown.