Sources: Virat Kohli to Opt Out of T20Is and ODIs Against South Africa, Rohit Sharma’s Participation Still Uncertain

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has decided to skip the upcoming T20I and ODI series against South Africa, according to sources. Kohli will only join the team for the Test series against the Proteas. This decision comes after speculation about Kohli’s future in the shortest format of the game, as he has been absent from T20 internationals since the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in 2022.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, led by former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar, will soon finalize the Indian team for all three formats for the tour of South Africa. It is expected that both Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be part of the Test assignment, which begins on Boxing Day at Centurion.

While Kohli has opted out of the white-ball series, Rohit Sharma is yet to confirm his availability for the ODI assignment against South Africa. It is likely that Sharma will also give the T20I series a miss. Both players have been in great form, with Kohli ending the ODI World Cup as the top run-getter.

Currently, Kohli is on vacation in London, while Sharma is reportedly in the United Kingdom, taking a break after India’s defeat to Australia in the World Cup final. The Indian team, led by a young brigade under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, is currently playing a 5-match T20I series against Australia.

The absence of Kohli and Sharma from the white-ball assignments provides an opportunity for the young players to showcase their talent and stake a claim for a permanent spot in the team. The selection committee will have the task of finalizing the squad for the upcoming series in the coming days.