Highlights
- Virat breaks silence on reports of estrangement with Rohit
- Indian team will leave for South Africa tour on December 16
- Kohli will be available to play in Test and ODI series
It has been just a few months since the T20 World Cup 2021 ended, when captain Virat Kohli clashed with a reporter for his fellow vice-captain Rohit Sharma. But what happened now when there are reports of alleged rift between the two.
The Indian team had to face a crushing defeat against Pakistan in the first match of the T20 World Cup held in UAE. In this match, except Kohli, other batsmen returned to the pavilion cheaply. Rohit was not even allowed to open the account by pacer Shaheen Afridi.
After this, when Kohli was asked a question on Rohit Sharma, he held his forehead. Kohli was asked if Ishan Kishan could be a better option in the playing XI instead of Rohit Sharma? To which Kohli said, ‘This is a very courageous question. What do you think? I played the team that I liked best. am i asking you? Would you drop Rohit Sharma from T20 Internationals? Will you drop Rohit Sharma? If you want controversy, then let me know, then I will answer accordingly. Incredible.’
Now when Team India has to leave for South Africa tour on Thursday. In such a situation, two days ago i.e. on Tuesday, news came in the media that both do not want to play under each other’s captaincy.
Kohli made it clear via a virtual press conference on Wednesday that he will play the ODI series in South Africa, putting an end to speculations about his availability and his equations with newly-appointed limited overs captain Rohit Sharma.
“I was available for selection and I am always available for selection,” Kohli said in a press conference ahead of the South African tour. I have never approached BCCI (Indian Cricket Board) for rest. I am available for the ODI series in South Africa and was available earlier as well.
For the past two days, there were reports that all is not well between Kohli and Test vice-captain Rohit. Rohit will not be able to play in the Test series due to muscle strain. After Rohit’s exit from the Test series, reports came that Kohli would take a break from the ODI series to spend time with his family.
This happened after Rohit was handed over the command of the ODI and T20 teams, which was informed by the BCCI in a press release while declaring the Test team for the series. Kohli had announced before the start of the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates that he would step down as the captain of India’s T20 team after the tournament. On the ongoing speculation about this, Kohli said, “Many things that turn out to be not ideal and they are not always what one would expect. But you have to understand that there is only so much you can do as a person and we have to do the same things that you as an individual can do in a controlled way. I am completely focused and mentally prepared.
However, this is not the first time that there have been reports of a tussle between the two superstar players of Team India. Even though Virat has denied it outright, but it is certain that everything is not going well in the Indian team.
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