Virat, Rohit in focus in 2nd T20

Their approach in Indore will dictate discussion on the squad India should pick as they build up to the T20 WC

- Vivek Krishnan

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are no strangers to the spotlight. If the scrutiny feels a bit different right now, it’s because they are polarising opinion on whether they merit a place in the India set-up for perhaps the first time since they established themselves. It’s a legitimate discussion in the T20 scheme of things given that they hadn’t played for India in the format for 14 months before their recall for the Afghanistan series.

The debate is likely to linger all the way through the build-up to the T20 World Cup. For the time being though, Sharma and Kohli have an opportunity to get runs and show that they can mould their game to the ever-changing demands of the shortest format. Sharma didn’t enjoy a smooth beginning to the three-match series in Mohali, run out for zero off the second ball of the innings after a mix-up with Shubman Gill.

Kohli missed that game to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. Both will be hoping to launch big hits with impactful knocks in the second T20I at Indore's Holkar Stadium on Sunday, against an Afghanistan attack missing the injured Rashid Khan.