Returning home triumphant from a successful South Africa tour, India is geared up to face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series, commencing in Mohali. With an eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup, the Men in Blue have fielded a formidable squad, featuring the comeback of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. However, Kohli will miss the first game due to personal reasons.

The Indian batting lineup boasts talents like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Sanju Samson, while the absence of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul opens opportunities for others. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are sidelined due to injuries. The bowling attack includes Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, and Axar Patel.

Afghanistan, led by Ibrahim Zadran, features a strong top order with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai. The middle order comprises Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Despite the absence of Rashid Khan, their bowling unit, including Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi, poses a challenge.

Mohali's renowned bounce and carry promise an exciting contest. Will Afghanistan seize the opportunity, or will Rohit Sharma's squad dominate the series opener? The answer awaits as cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the clash.