No prior communication before ODI captaincy decision: Kohli

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Virat Kohli, the India Test captain, confirmed his availability for the ODI leg of the South Africa tour, brushing aside recent reports that suggested he’d made himself unavailable.

Kohli, who was recently replaced as India’s limited-overs captain by Rohit Sharma, said he had been notified about the change in captaincy before the selection committee meeting, and slammed reports that suggested he wouldn’t be available for selection for the ODI series, reports ICC.

“I was and am available for selection (for the ODIs),” he said. “I was contacted by selectors 1.5 hours before the meeting, we discussed the Test selection, then chief selectors told me I won’t be the ODI captain and I was fine with it. There was no prior communication.”

Kohli was speaking to the media in Mumbai, ahead of the Indian team’s departure for their three-match Test series against in South Africa, which will be followed by a three-match ODI series.

The first Test will get underway in Centurion on December 26 with the series concluding on January 15. The ODI series will take place between January 19-23.