Broadcaster’s promotional poster for India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash creates controversy
With the countdown to the T20 World Cup well underway, Indian cricket fans are holding their breath in anticipation of the squad announcement for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Afghanistan. But […]
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Jan 6, 2024 8:15 pm
With the countdown to the T20 World Cup well underway, Indian cricket fans are holding their breath in anticipation of the squad announcement for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Afghanistan. But this is no ordinary selection dilemma. The buzz and speculation surrounding the series revolve around one burning question: Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the talismanic figures of Indian cricket, make their much-awaited return to the shortest format?
Their prolonged absence, stretching back to November 2022, was a strategic shift by the BCCI to manage workload and prioritize the red-ball and ODI formats. It yielded results, with both batsmen excelling in Tests and ODIs. However, with the global T20 extravaganza looming on the horizon, the question of their reintegration into the shortest format has become the hottest topic in Indian cricket circles.
On one hand, there’s a strong argument for their inclusion. Of late, Rohit’s captaincy has been impressive while his explosive batting has been impactful. Kohli on the other hand, has been in supreme form and thus, the argument is that their presence would not only provide stability and guidance to the younger players but also send a powerful message of intent to potential challengers.
Rohit Sharma-Hardik Pandya (Source: Twitter)
With the likes of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav nursing injuries, the chances of Rohit and Kohli returning to T20s have increased over the last few days.
Fans not pleased with broadcaster’s promo poster
Recently, the schedule for the T20 World Cup was released by the Apex Cricket Council. The broadcaster, Star Sports then released a digital promotional poster of the India vs Pakistan game which will be held on June 9 in New York. Fans erupted in a torrent of online criticism as the poster featured Pakistan’s confirmed captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, alongside Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. While the intent was likely to generate excitement for the marquee matchup, the choice of Hardik Pandya ignited a firestorm of confusion and speculation.
Pandya has captained the Indian team in Rohit Sharma’s absence. However, with no official announcement regarding whether Sharma will return to lead the T20 side for the World Cup, the poster was interpreted by many as confusing and sensational. This ambiguity triggered a wave of social media chatter.
