“As of now, Kohli hasn’t sent any formal request to skip the ODIs” – BCCI Official

Team India’s Test captain Virat Kohli has not put any formal request to grant him break for the ODI series against South Africa, a BCCI official has confirmed on Tuesday.

Soon after Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the Test series, reports surfaced that Kohli might skip the 50-overs leg of the South Africa tour. Many cited his daughter Vamika’s first birth anniversary as the reason for skipping the tour. However, a BCCI official has quashed all such reports saying that Virat Kohli has not applied for any official break.

“As of now, Kohli hasn’t sent any formal request to skip the ODIs to either BCCI president Sourav Ganguly or secretary Jay Shah. If something is decided at a later date or God forbid, he sustains an injury, then it’s a different matter,” a senior BCCI official privy to developments told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

“As things stand today, he is playing the three ODIs on January 19, 21, 23,” he added.

Ahead of the ODI series, Virat Kohli will lead India in the three-match Test series, which kicks off on December 26 in Centurion. Johannesburg and Cape Town will host the remaining two games.

The official also added that families will accompany the cricketers on the South Africa tour, so there are no chances of Kohli skipping the tour as of now.

“The skipper is travelling with his family. But yes, if he feels bubble fatigue after the Test series and wants to take a break, he would definitely inform the chairman of selectors and secretary (Shah), who is the convenor of the selection committee,” the source added.

Virat Kohli, who has been an advocate of mental health, had opted for the paternity leave during the Australia series and also took break from New Zealand T20Is.