I was and I am available for South Africa ODIs, never asked BCCI for any rest: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has confirmed his availability for the South Africa ODIs in January 2022 on the eve of India’s departure from Mumbai. Kohli rubbished all reports of him having asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a break, while he also opened up for the first time since India’s ODI captaincy was transferred to Rohit Sharma.

India will play three Tests, followed by as many ODIs, with the series starting from December 26-30 in Centurion, followed by the second in Johannesburg from January 3-7 and the third and final one in Cape Town from January 11-15. The ODIs, which will not be a part of the ICC ODI World Cup Super League, will commence on January 19 in Paarl, which will also host the second ODI on January 21 before the final one in Cape Town on January 23.

“I am available for selection in the ODIs. You should honestly ask these questions to the sources who are writing all this,” Kohli told reporters in a virtual press conference on December 15. “There were certain things that came out in the past which said that I was attending events but there is nothing like that and those are not credible.”

“I was and I am available for selection. I haven’t had any communication with BCCI where I have asked for any break. I am available for selection for ODIs in South Africa. People are writing lies. I have never asked for rest,” Kohli stated bluntly.

He told about being contacted by the selectors an hour and a half before the squad selection for the three-Test South Africa series, which was when he was informed about the decision of Rohit being selected as the new ODI captain. Kohli stated that to be his first communication with the BCCI stakeholders in that regard.

“I was contacted one and a half hours before selection for Tests. The chief selector discussed with me the Test [team for South Africa]. Before the call ended, I was told that the five selectors have decided that I won’t be ODI captain anymore. There was no prior communication about this.”

Kohli admitted that he wished to continue leading in ODIs, which was clarified in his statement when he announced his decision to step down as the team’s T20I skipper in a bid to manage his workload, but added that he was always ready to give up the leadership role in any format if the selectors had such a view.

“When I told BCCI that I want to give up the T20I captaincy, it was accepted really well. There was no hesitancy. I was told that it was a progressive step. I had informed at that time that I would like to lead in ODIs and Tests. The communication from my side was clear but I had also informed that if the office bearers and selectors don’t think I should lead in other formats then that is fine.”