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Former India captain and maverick batter, Virat Kohli, who emerged as the top run-scorer in the recently-concluded ODI World Cup, has decided to opt out of the upcoming white-ball matches in India's South Africa tour. The tour is set to commence with a T20 International on December 10 in Durban. According to a report in The Indian Express, Kohli communicated his decision for a break to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The report further stated that Kohli is expected to participate in the Test matches.
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“He (Kohli) has informed the BCCI and selectors that he needs a break from white-ball cricket and he will get back to them about when he wants to play white ball cricket next," The Indian Express quoted a source as saying.
"At the moment he has informed the BCCI that he will be playing red-ball cricket, which means he is available for selection for the two Test matches in South Africa," the source said.
During the South Africa tour, the Indian team is scheduled to play three T20 internationals and three One Day Internationals (ODIs), followed by two Test matches. Kohli's absence in the limited-overs segment of the tour comes after his remarkable performance in the World Cup, where he scored 765 runs in 11 innings, including three centuries. His outstanding contribution in the tournament earned him the title of the player of the tournament.
The first Test of the tour is scheduled for Boxing Day at Centurion, followed by the second Test in Cape Town. Currently, Kohli is on a vacation in London, taking some well-deserved time off after a strenuous period of continuous cricket. Prior to the World Cup in September, his last break was when he and captain Rohit Sharma were rested for the first two ODIs against Australia at home.
The status of Rohit’s availability for the white-ball games remains uncertain. Like Kohli, Rohit is also currently on a break in the United Kingdom following the World Cup campaign, where he led India to ten consecutive wins before their defeat in the final.
The national selection committee, led by former Indian allrounder Ajit Agarkar, will soon convene to select the Indian team for all three formats of the South Africa tour. Additionally, BCCI secretary Jay Shah is expected to hold discussions with Rohit and chairman of selectors Agarkar to outline the future roadmap for the Indian cricket team.
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