Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has decided to take a hiatus from the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa, extending his break from the ongoing T20I series against Australia. This break aligns with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) granting rest to Kohli, along with captain Rohit Sharma and other senior players, for the T20Is against Australia.

Reports suggest that Kohli has communicated his desire to skip the white-ball leg against South Africa and focus on the Test series, starting with the opening match on Boxing Day at Supersport Park in Centurion, followed by the second test at Newlands stadium in Cape Town beginning on January 3.

According to sources, Kohli has informed the BCCI and selectors about his intention to take a break from white-ball cricket while expressing his availability for selection in the two Test matches in South Africa. Currently enjoying a holiday in London with his family, Kohli is expected to inform the board about his plans for white-ball cricket at a later stage.

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In contrast, there is no clarity yet on Rohit Sharma’s availability for the white-ball series. While both Kohli and Sharma have not played a T20I game since the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against England in Australia, the national selector, Ajit Agarkar, is set to discuss Sharma’s availability with him during his UK vacation.

Suryakumar Yadav is currently leading the side in the T20I series against Australia, and with Hardik Pandya’s uncertain status, the leadership role for the significant series against South Africa remains an open question.

The South Africa series holds significance not only for individual players like Kohli and Sharma in the T20I format but also for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. The performances and leadership choices in this series are expected to shape the future course of Indian cricket in the shorter formats.