Indian Test Captain Virat Kohli once again rubbished all the reports about his alleged rift with Rohit Sharma. He has been tired of explaining this same thing again and again.
Speaking in a press conference before the South Africa tour, he also said that he would be available for the ODI series starting on January 19.
Virat Kohli will be available for the ODI series
Noteworthy that Rohit Sharma was appointed as ODI captain for South Africa series. He was also given the responsibility of vice-captain role in the Test team but a couple of days before departing for the South Africa tour, he was ruled out from the Test series due to a hamstring injury. And since then rumours were floating around that Virat Kohli would also take a rest from the ODI series to avoid playing under Rohit Sharma.
“Between Rohit and I, there is no problem at all. Honestly, over the last two, two and half years, I have been clarifying this. I am tired of doing it. Again and again, the same question is being asked of me. I will tell you one thing with a guarantee that my actions and my communications will never bring down the team till the time I play cricket,” Virat Kohli said.
Also, he announced that he would be available for the ODI series in South Africa,
“I am available for selection and was available for selection. You should not be asking these questions. You should be asking to people who are writing these and their sources. As far as I am concerned, I am always available for selection. In the past, it was written that I was attending some function but I was in Mumbai all the while.” Virat Kohli said.
“They are absolutely not credible. I am available for ODIs, and I was always keen to play. As I said, these questions would be asked to people who are writing lies.” he added further.
Virat Kohli also told that he was informed about the removal of him (as ODI captain) in the meeting with the selectors for Test squad selection. Notable that when Virat Kohli resigned from the T20I captaincy, he reiterated in his social media post that he would like to continue as Test and ODI captain.
“Whatever was said, I was contacted 1 and half hours before the meeting. There was no communication. The chief selector discussed the Test team. Before ending the call, I was told the five selectors told me I will not be ODI captain. I told them ‘it is fine.” Virat Kohli said.
Since October 2016, this will be the first time when Virat Kohli will play under some captain when he takes on the field on the field for the ODI series against South Africa starting on January 19.