CAPTAINS WON'T PLAY TOGETHER, FOR NOW

ODI Skipper Rohit Sharma Injured, To Skip Tests In South Africa; Test Leader Virat Kohli Takes A Break From ODI Leg Of Tour

- K Shriniwas Rao

Mumbai: India’s red-ball captain Virat Kohli will not play the One-day International series in South Africa while white-ball captain Rohit Sharma will be unavailable for the Test series. Kohli is the Test captain and Rohit is India’s newly-appointed white-ball skipper. Their being unavailable for the respective formats has nothing to do with the ongoing controversy related to the Team India white-ball captaincy changing hands.

Kohli had informed the Indian cricket board (BCCI) in advance that he would take a break in early January. Since the ODI series coincides with the first birthday of his daughter, Kohli had communicated that he could not participate in the One-day series.

Sharma, meanwhile, has been ruled out because of a hamstring injury. Luckily, the injury is not a tear and therefore the opener is expected to be available in three weeks’ time to lead the white-ball team.