Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Pull Out Of South Africa Series

image-lpaswftrVirat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (AP News)

After a grueling campaign in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, Indian cricket fans will miss the seasoned duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. The two stalwarts have requested for a month-long break, seeking rest and recuperation before diving into the challenging Test series.

According to Sports Tak, KL Rahul is likely to don the captain's hat during the ODIs scheduled from December 17 to 21, leading the team in the absence of the legendary duo. However, the final decision on Rahul's leadership in South Africa is still pending.

Selectors have reportedly engaged in talks with Sharma and Kohli, emphasizing the importance of participating in bilateral T20I series if they intend to be considered for the T20 World Cup 2024. The upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in the Caribbean and the USA after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, seems to be a crucial factor in determining their T20I future.

Sharma and Kohli's last appearance in T20Is was in the T20 World Cup 2022, where India faced elimination in the semifinals against England. Since then, Hardik Pandya has taken charge of the T20I side, with the duo focusing on ODI and Test cricket. This strategic decision proved successful, as they played pivotal roles in India's exceptional batting performances throughout the World Cup 2023.

Reportedly, Suryakumar Yadav will lead the T20I side against South Africa due to Pandya's injury, which ruled him out of the World Cup. The recovery timeline for Pandya remains uncertain, leaving a question mark over his availability for the T20I series against South Africa.