Mumbai: India suffered a major blow after White-ball captain and Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the Tests in South Africa, now reports have emerged that India’s red-ball captain Virat Kohli will not play the One-day International series in South Africa.
Kohli and Rohit will not play together on South Africa tour. It is a coincidence or captaincy controversy, but both the players will go on the tour of South Africa, but will not go together in Tests and ODIs. The newly-appointed skipper Rohit got injured during practice in Mumbai on Monday, and he has been ruled out of the Test.
If reports are something to go by, Test leader Virat Kohli will take a break from the ODI leg of the tour due to personal reasons. Sources have said that Kohli is planning to celebrate a holiday with his family after the third Test.
Important to note that Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s daughter Vamika will turn one on January 11, 2022, at the same time the third Test is also scheduled to be played from January 11 to 15. The BCCI is yet to make an official statement about the 32-year-old’s participation in the ODI series.
“Yes, Kohli has asked for a small break in January to spend some time with his family. It effectively means that he would miss the ODI series against South Africa,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying to ANI.
Former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin on Tuesday also shared his view on the same. Saying there is no harm in taking a break but the timing has to be better.
“Virat Kohli has informed that he’s not available for the ODI series & Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the upcoming test. There is no harm in taking a break but the timing has to be better. This just substantiates speculation about the rift. Neither will be giving up the other form of cricket,” Azharuddin tweeted.
Virat Kohli has informed that he's not available for the ODI series & Rohit Sharma is unavailable fr d upcoming test. There is no harm in takin a break but d timing has to be better. This just substantiates speculation abt d rift. Neither wil be giving up d other form of cricket.
— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) December 14, 2021
According to sources, Rohit Sharma will take about a month to recover from his hamstring injury. The three-match ODI series starts on January 19 at Boland Park, Paarl. The second ODI will be played at the same venue on January 21 while the third and final match of the series will be played on January 23 at Newlands in Cape Town.
India is scheduled to play three Tests and as many ODIs in South Africa. The tour begins with the first Test on December 26.
