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IND vs AFG T20Is: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan but wicketkeeper KL Rahul's omission from the squad left everyone surprised.

Rohit, Kohli and Rahul were not part of India's T20I side since the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal exit against England in Adelaide, Australia. Ahead of this year's T20 World Cup 2024, Rohit and Kohli have retained their spot back in the side but Rahul's absence casts doubts over his shortest-format career. The series against Afghanistan is the only bilateral T20Is India are scheduled to play before T20 World Cup 2024 in June. 

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Rahul has been India's regular member in ODI and Test formats but he is not getting a chance to play in T20Is. Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned Rahul's exclusion from Afghanistan T20Is and asked for clarity on the wicketkeeper's future in the format.

"Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli were India's top three in the 2022 World Cup. Among them, KL Rahul has been dropped or has not been picked, there is no clarity, but he is not there. There can be a discussion on that as well," said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.

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The former batter backed Rahul for T20Is and added that the wicketkeeper-batter's strike rate is suitable for the middle order in the 20-over format too like his regular batting position in ODIs.

"His strike rate in T20Is is more than 135, so that is not bad. There are no vacant opening positions in any case, and you play him in the middle in ODIs as well, so you could have done that here too. You play him down the order even in Tests now. However, you said you need to make some changes at least," Chopra added.

The first T20I of the three-match series between India and Afghanistan will be played in Mohali on Thursday, January 11.