Indian batter Virat Kohli will be absent from the first of three Twenty20 internationals against Afghanistan due to "personal reasons," announced coach Rahul Dravid on Wednesday.
Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma have returned to the T20 squad after more than a year for the series ahead of the T20 World Cup in June.
"Virat Kohli will miss the first game due to personal reasons. He will be playing in the second and third T20," Dravid stated at a press conference.
Although Kohli and Rohit have reunited in the T20 format, Dravid confirmed that Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal will continue as the first-choice openers for the team.
"As of now, we will certainly be opening with Rohit and Jaiswal," Dravid mentioned, addressing the possibility of Kohli opening with Rohit. However, he emphasised the team's flexibility to make adjustments based on the best interests of the team.
Jaiswal, 22, earned his spot in the Indian team after an impressive performance in the Indian Premier League last year. Dravid expressed satisfaction with Jaiswal's contributions as an opener, highlighting the left-right combination at the top.
Rinku Singh, who made his T20 debut in December, has also caught Dravid's attention with his powerful batting in the Indian Premier League. Dravid praised Singh's role as a finisher and sees the series as an opportunity for him to further develop.
The omission of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan has raised questions, with some reports suggesting disciplinary issues. Dravid, however, denied these rumours, stating that Iyer was not excluded for disciplinary reasons and that Kishan had requested a break.
The T20 series against Afghanistan kicks off in Mohali on Thursday, followed by matches in Indore on Sunday and Bengaluru on January 17.
