Is Virat Kohli really contemplating taking a rest from international cricket amid the India vs South Africa series? Did Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly personally request the Indian Test skipper to not give up the T20I captainship? Team India’s Test captain answered several burning questions in one of his most explosive press conferences since his ascension to the leadership throne at the national side. 

One of the finest leaders in the history of the game, Kohli was speculated to be taking a break from the One Day International (ODI) series between India and hosts South Africa. India’s most successful Test captain in the history of red-ball cricket, Kohli was asked to make way for Rohit Sharma, who was appointed as the full-time captain of the Asian giants in the white-ball cricket after the T20 World Cup. 

Kohli’s equation with the newly-appointed white-ball captain was also questioned in the lead-up to India’s tour of South Africa. Putting rest to several speculations on Tuesday, Kohli chaired the traditional press conference before Team India’s departure for the South Africa series.

Here’s a look at 5 takeaways from the Indian Test skipper’s explosive press conference ahead of India’s tour of South Africa. 

• 1) Kohli is available for South Africa ODIs 

First things first – Kohli quashed the rumours linking him with taking a short sabbatical from white-ball cricket during India’s tour of South Africa. Kohli confirmed that he is available for selection and the former skipper will spearhead the world-class batting order of the visitors in South Africa. 
“I was and I am available for selection all the time. I never communicated with BCCI asking for rest. I am available for the ODI series in South Africa and was always available. It should be asked to people who are writing lies. My communication with the BCCI on this issue has not happened that I want to rest,” Kohli said in the virtual press conference. 

• 2) Kohli contradicts BCCI chief Ganguly

Not long ago, BCCI president Ganguly said that he personally requested Kohli to not step down as T20I captain. Kohli had relinquished T20I captaincy after India’s 2021 World Cup campaign. “When I decided to leave the T20I captaincy and approached the BCCI about my decision, it was received well – there was no offence or hesitation, I wasn’t told to reconsider it,” Kohli said. 

• 3) How Kohli was told about the end of ODI captaincy 

Kohli revealed that his removal from ODI captaincy took place 90 minutes before the selectors furnished the final squad for the South Africa series. Kohli acknowledged the fact that not winning any major ICC trophy led to his removal as white-ball captain. 

“The chief selector [Chetan Sharma] discussed with me the Test team to which we both agreed, and before ending the call I was told the five selectors have decided I will not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, ‘okay, fine’. And in the selection call afterwards, we chatted about it briefly. That’s what happened. There was no communication prior to that at all,” Kohli recalled. 

• 4) Is there a rift with Rohit Sharma?

Kohli was once again made to reiterate the fact that all is well between two of the finest batters of the Indian cricket team. Kohli reckoned that he has been addressing this for a long period of time and there is no rift between him and Rohit at the Indian camp. “There is no problem between me and Rohit Sharma. I have been clarifying for the past two years and I am tired now. I want to also say one thing that none of my actions or decisions will be to take the team down,” Kohli added. 

• 5) India can do something special in South Africa 

After conquering Australia twice in their tour Down Under, Kohli & Co. will aim to register an unprecedented Test series win on South African soil in the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship. Kohli will lead Team India in the upcoming three-match Test series with the Proteas. Kohli’s deputy Rohit has been ruled out of the high-profile Test series. 

“South Africa is one place where we have not won a series yet. So we are very motivated to do that. And the mindset is always to go there and win a series in any country that we play. We don’t anymore think of just winning a Test here and there and we will do our absolute best that we can as a team and make sure that we keep contributing towards that cause,” he added.