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[Saba Sports News] India batter Virat Kohli, a stalwart across formats, has reportedly conveyed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he will be skipping the forthcoming white-ball leg of the South Africa tour, set to kick off on December 10 in Durban.
Kohli, at 35, recently showcased his prime form during the ODI World Cup 2023, earning the coveted title of Player of the Tournament. His prolific performance saw him amass an impressive 765 runs at an average of 95.62 across 11 matches, making him the tolp-scorer of the tournament.
Despite his white-ball prowess, Kohli has opted out of the upcoming South Africa tour for the T20Is and ODIs but is expected to grace the red-ball arena, having expressed his willingness to focus on Test cricket.
According to a source quoted by The Indian Express, Kohli has informed the BCCI and selectors about his need for a break from white-ball cricket, indicating that he will communicate his availability for limited-overs formats in the future. However, he has affirmed his readiness to play red-ball cricket, making him eligible for selection in the two Test matches versus South Africa.
A source revealed to The Indian Express, “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. 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.”
Following the Proteas tour, India’s limited overs schedule is sparse, with just one white-ball series against Afghanistan in January before the T20 World Cup 2024. It is likely that senior players, including Kohli, might sit out in the Afghanistan series as well.
While Kohli’s decision is clear, uncertainty looms over Rohit Sharma’s participation in the white-ball leg against South Africa. Reports suggest that if Rohit misses out, either KL Rahul or Jasprit Bumrah could be contenders for captaincy as Hardik Pandya is injured.