Virat Kohli provides latest update on South Africa tour amid Omicron outbreak
Indian skipper Virat Kohli has provided a latest update on South Africa tour amid Omicron outbreak
Guru SaiReporter
Posted - 2021-12-02T22:11:41+06:00
Updated - 2021-12-02T22:11:41+06:00
Highlights
Indian captain Virat Kohli was last seen in action during the T20 World Cup 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. Kohli led the Men in Blue in the shortest format for the last time against Namibia before stepping down as T20I captain.
Rohit Sharma to lead the T20I team. Currently, India are a bit busy with the homework against New Zealand. Rohit led the team ever so well in the three-match T20I series.
The 33-year-old stalwart passed on the baton toThe Men in Blue won the series by 3-0 against the Black Caps. Virat Kohli was rested for the T20I series including the Test opener. Ajinkya Rahane led the team in Kohli's absence. The first Test between India and New Zealand ended in a draw.
Now, the players of both teams are geared up for the second Test match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai that is scheduled to be held tomorrow. Virat Kohli will be back to lead the team in full swing. After that, India have an important overseas assignment against South Africa.
India will play 3 Tests and as many ODIs followed by 4 Twenty20 games against South Africa. The Test series is expected to kick off on December 17 in Johannesburg. However, it seems that there might be a delay in travelling due to the ongoing omicron threat across the world.
All games might get pushed back by a week. Meanwhile, India on Thursday reported 2 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. Both have been reported from India's southern state, by the name of Karnataka.
Virat Kohli provides an update on the South Africa tour
Ahead of the second and final Test against New Zealand, Virat said, "We have spoken to all the senior members of the squad. Obviously, Rahul bhai [head coach Rahul Dravid] has initiated a conversation within the group, which is very important to know."
He said: "At the end of the day we understand - our focus from the Test match will not shift regardless - but you want to have clarity and want to be in a situation where you know exactly what's going on. We've been talking to the board and we are pretty confident that within a day or two, or pretty soon we'll have absolute clarity as to what is going on."
Virat further added: "We cannot just ignore the things that potentially could put you in a confusing place. And no one wants to be there. I'm sure everyone is working hard towards finding clarity and giving us the situation as it unfolds, as soon as possible."
"There are players who are not part of the group right now and will be entering quarantine to join the team in the bubble to fly in a charter. Those kinds of things, you want to seek clarity as soon as possible, so we have spoken to all the senior members of the squad," added Kohli.
"It's pretty natural, we are not playing in normal times so there is a lot of planning that is involved, there is a lot of preparation that is involved in understanding what exactly will go on."