Virat Kohli confirmed his availability for the ODI leg of the South Africa tour, quashing the chatter that suggested he had made himself unavailable.
Kohli, who was recently replaced as India's limited-overs captain by Rohit Sharma, said he had been notified about his sacking 90 minutes before the selection committee meeting: ‘I was contacted by selectors 1.5 hours before the meeting, we discussed the Test selection, then chief selectors told me I won't be the ODI captain and I was fine with it’.
Kohli also denied reports of an alleged rift with Rohit: ‘There is no problem between me and Rohit. I have been clarifying for the last two and a half years or so. I'm really tired.’
He further stated that he had informed the BCCI about his decision to quit as T20I captain just prior to the 2021 Men’s World Cup, and the subsequent reaction: ‘There was no offence or hesitation. I wasn't told to reconsider it. It was received well; I was told it's progressive and it's (a step) in the right direction.’
The three-match Test series between South Africa and India will begin on 26 December in Centurion. It will be followed by a three-match ODI series, starting 19 January.