Virat Kohli was recently removed from ODI captaincy and Rohit Sharma replaced him for the role.
Indian Test captain Virat Kohli has confirmed he will be available for the upcoming ODI series next month on the South Africa tour. There were few reports of Kohli skipping the ODI series due to personal reasons.
But the reports turned out to be untrue after the ex-India ODI captain said he will be available for selection in a press conference on Wednesday (December 15). "I was and I am available for selection all the time. I never communicated with BCCI asking for rest. I am available for the ODI series in South Africa, and was always available," he said.
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The All-India Senior Selection Committee had earlier named Rohit Sharma the captain of the ODI format. Kohli said he accepted the captaincy change in ODI after being informed by the selectors.
The 33-year-old added that he had no prior communication with the selectors regarding ODI captaincy before he was removed. "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. There was no prior communication," he said.
Rohit was also picked as India's Test vice-captain while selectors named an 18-member squad for the upcoming 3-match Test series against South Africa starting from 26th December 2021. But he won't be available for the Test series due to a hamstring injury.
After the three-match Test series, India will play 3 ODIs from January 19, while the 4 T20Is will be played later.
(Quotes via PTI/ICC)