Virat Kohli takes indefinite break from white-ball cricket: Reports

Ahead of India's tour to South Africa, star batter Virat Kohli has made himself unavilabale for selection. The reports calimed that he has taken a break from white ball cricket for indefinate period. He will be unavailable for the three match T20 series against Afghnaistan as well. 

Virat Kohli has informed BCCI that he will take break in the white ball series against South Africa.

- He will be back in the Test series against South Africa. (To Indian Express) pic.twitter.com/M9as0OeLd9

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) November 29, 2023

Why Virat Kohli is not paying T20 cricket?

The Indian Express cited the report of a BCCI source that Kohli has decided to focus on red-ball cricket as of now and will be available to play the two match test series in South Africa and not the ODIs and T20Is. 

The report quoted, “He (Kohli) has informed the BCCI and selectors that he needs a break from white-ball cricket and he will get back to them about when he wants to play white-ball cricket next. At the moment he has informed the BCCI that he will be playing red-ball cricket, which means he is available for selection for the two Test matches in South Africa.”

Virat Kohli will be back in Test Series against South Africa, the last match of this year :( pic.twitter.com/yt5DrAUXsg

— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) November 29, 2023

Will Rohit Sharma play in T20 World Cup?

Meanwhile, there is no clarity on India skipper Rohit Sharma's availability for the South Africa's tour. Both Indian stalwart batters (Rohit and Kohli) havent played T20 cricket since the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. 

Who will be India's captain for T20 World Cup? 

The T20 World Cup is lined up for June in 2024, there were talks if both of them would make their return in the cricekt's shortest format. As the skipper Rohit Sharma impressed everyone with his bat and captaincy, propelling 'Men in Blue' into the World Cup finals will be fair to ask him to lead Indian side at T20 World Cup. 

But the current standings suggests it seems unlikely that Rohit and Kohli will play in T20Is anymore. In fact, their future in ODIs also looks cold as India dont have much white ball action lined up till T20 World Cup.