IND vs AFG: On Sunday, January 7, BCCI announced the squad for the first time against the Afghanistan team visiting India. Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are returning to the team, and both players will be seen playing together in T20 matches after a long gap of 14 months. Secondly, key players like Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and KL Rahul are out of the squad due to injury. In such a situation, the question arises: who will replace them? Down below this article cover: Team India Expected Playing 11 in first T20I



The first match between India and Afghanistan will be played at the Punjab Cricket Association's IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. There could be a lot of headache for Rohit Sharma in choosing his playing 11 in the first T20I. Rohit's aim will be to fill the places of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, along with the challenge of choosing a strong bowling attack.



The biggest challenge before the captain will be to choose his fellow opener batsman; only one of Shubham Gill and Yashvi Jaiswal can get a place in the team. But Jaiswal has been playing well in T20 cricket for some time now, due to which he may get first priority. The team management will also try to take advantage of the left-right combination.



King Kohli will be seen playing in his favorite position, number 3. In place of T20 number 1 batsman Suryakumar Yadav, either Sanju Samson or Tilak Verma can be seen playing. The Indian team will also be looking for a wicketkeeper; in such a situation, it is almost certain that Sanju Samson will be in the playing 11.



Rinku Singh, who has performed brilliantly in the T20 format, will play his role at number five against Afghanistan, while Shivam Dubey and Washington Sundar can be seen batting in the lower order.



The Indian captain will take the field with three fast bowlers and one spinner in the first T20 match against Afghanistan. The captain does not have many options among fast bowlers, and in the absence of senior players Siraj, Shami, and Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar are in the playing 11. And Avesh Khan can be seen playing. Among Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep can get a place in the playing 11 because, along with good bowling, he also brings experience with him.



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Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar.



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Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Verma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar.



Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-afg-former-selector-explains-why-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-were-picked-in-team-indias-squad-for-afghanistan/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-afg-former-selector-explains-why-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-were-picked-in-team-indias-squad-for-afghanistan/">Former selector explains why Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli were picked in Team India?s squad for Afghanistan</a>



For more details head to?<a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICC?s?</a>official website.

IND vs AFG: Team India Expected Playing 11 in first T20I | India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I

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IND vs AFG, Funny Moment: Team India is playing against Afghanistan in the first T20i of the three-match T20i series at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Men in Blue skipper Rohit Sharma, who is known for his big hitting skills and the ability to forget the names of his players, once again grabbed attention for forgetting his playing 11. The Indian captain won the toss, chose to field first, and started to reveal the names of the players who were not a part of the playing 11.



Rohit took the names of Avesh Khan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson but forgot the name of Kuldeep Yadav. He received help from commentator Murali Karthik, who gave Rohit a reminder about Kuldeep Yadav missing out on the playing 11 as the 36-year-old had informed Karthik before the toss.



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?I will tell you the names of the guys who are not a part of the playing 11, Avesh Khan, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal (who didn't pull up well), and then one more, as I told you before the toss, the four players who are not playing. Kuldeep is playing. Asked Murali Karthik, yes, correct, Kuldeep Yadav is not playing,? Rohit Sharma said at the toss.



Rohit Sharma has a knack of forgetting things, and he even forgot whether he wanted to bat first or bowl first in an ODI game. Indian batter Virat Kohli once revealed that Rohit tends to forget his belongings at the team hotel or on flights.



Opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal is not a part of India's playing 11 for the 1st T20i against Afghanistan due to having a sore right groin. Before the commencement of the three-match T20i series, Indian Head Coach Rahul Dravid had backed the youngster to open the innings for the Men in Blue alongside captain Rohit Sharma, who is returning to the T20 Internationals after a span of 14 months.



Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-england-kl-rahul-to-focus-on-batting-ishan-kishan-likely-to-keep-the-wickets-against-england-rahul-dravid/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-england-kl-rahul-to-focus-on-batting-ishan-kishan-likely-to-keep-the-wickets-against-england-rahul-dravid/"> India vs England: KL Rahul to focus on batting, Ishan Kishan likely to keep the wickets against England</a>



Visit the?<a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/homepage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICC OFFICIAL WEBSITE</a>?for more recent updates.

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