Virat Kohli opts for break, excludes himself from India’s white-ball matches in South Africa tour

| Updated: 29 November, 2023 3:46 pm IST

Kohli gave the delivery from Mehidy Hasan Miraz a slight push forwards on-side and started for a single.

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli, who emerged as the top run-scorer in the recently concluded World Cup, will not be in contention for selection in the white-ball matches during India’s upcoming tour of South Africa. The tour commences with a T20 International on December 10 in Durban.

Kohli has conveyed his decision to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a break. The South Africa tour includes three T20 internationals, three ODIs, and two Test matches.

In the upcoming days, the national selection committee, led by former Indian all-rounder Ajit Agarkar, will be responsible for choosing the Indian team across all three formats. Kohli had an outstanding performance in the World Cup hosted in India, accumulating 765 runs in 11 innings, which included three centuries. He was also honoured as the player of the tournament.

Also Read: Ind vs Aus: Anushka’s hug, Ritika’s tears mark shift in cricket’s emotional paradigm

The opening Test is set to commence on Boxing Day at Centurion, while the second Test will take place in Cape Town.

In the previous year, Kohli opted for a break following the England tour, abstaining from participation in the limited-over series in the West Indies and Zimbabwe. Upon his return, he shared that the hiatus proved immensely beneficial, acknowledging that he had been attempting to feign his intensity before the break.

During the World Cup, Kohli not only matched Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI milestone of 49 centuries but also surpassed it. Kohli achieved centuries against Bangladesh (103 not out), South Africa (101*), and New Zealand (117). In the final, he scored 54 off 63 balls in a match that Australia won by six wickets. Kohli set a new record during the game against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, breaking Tendulkar’s previous achievement.

As Virat Kohli takes a break, questions arise about Rohit Sharma’s participation in the white-ball formats. Rohit, who guided the Indian team to 10 consecutive victories in the World Cup before the final defeat, is presently on a hiatus in the United Kingdom. The forthcoming discussions involving BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar, and Rohit are expected to shape the upcoming plans.