India are likely to miss the services of their experienced batsman Virat Kohli for 6 of the 8 international matches on the tour of South Africa in December-January.
India will tour South Africa for matches in all three formats from December 10 to January 7. India’s tour of South Africa comprises 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs, and 2 Tests.
However, it has been reported that Virat Kohli will not feature in the white-ball matches in South Africa and will fly only for the 2 Test matches.
Virat Kohli informed the BCCI and selectors that he needs a break
Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer in the World Cup 2023 and bagged the Player of the Tournament award. But the 34-year-old is reportedly seeking a break from the limited-overs games against South Africa.
The Indian Express reported that “Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision to take a break” from the T20I and ODI series and he will be available to feature in the Test series, which is part of the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle.
“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,” a source said.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel will sit to select squads for all three formats for the South Africa tour in the coming days.
Virat Kohli is currently on holiday in London with his family.
Meanwhile, there is also no clarity on the future of Rohit Sharma as white-ball skipper and Rahul Dravid as head coach. It has been reported that the BCCI has offered an extension to Dravid and Rohit is likely to remain the captain until next year’s T20 World Cup in June.
