Virat Kohli Shuts Everyone Down In A Brutal Presser Ahead South Africa Tour

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"Virat Kohli on fire". Although it has been a while since media articles have written these lines but Kohli has been in a terrific form these days when it comes to press conferences. 

In October, Kohli defended his teammate Mohammad Shami after the bowler was subject to religious trolling after the loss against Pakistan and two months later, Virat gave a clear view of what is happening in Indian cricket nowadays. 

Beginning of the press conference ahead of India's tour of South Africa, Kohli clarified that he will be available for selection in the ODIs, neutralizing several media reports and 'sources' claiming he wants to take a break for personal reasons. 

"I was, and I am available for selection. I have had no communication with BCCI to say that I want to rest. I was always keen to play," he said.

"There were a few things that came out in the past as well which said I was attending some events or something that was absolutely not true either. All these people who are writing these things and their sources, to me, they're absolutely not credible," he added.

Further, Kohli once again cleared that he was told just 1.5 hours before the selection committee sat that he won't be the ODI captain and not '48 hours' as the reports claimed. 

"There was no prior communication to me at all."

"On December 8th, the chief selector discussed the Test team to which we both agreed and before ending the call, I was told that the five selectors had decided that I won't be the ODI captain to which I replied 'ok, fine' and in the selection call afterwards, we chatted about it briefly. That's what happened," Kohli added.

India's test captain also said that he reached BCCI to talk about his T20I captaincy and it was received well by them and wasn't told to reconsider as President Saurav Ganguly claimed. 

"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. It was received well; I was told it's progressive and it's (a step) in the right direction.

"Then I told them I'd like to continue in Tests and ODIs, unless the office bearers and selectors feel otherwise. My communication was clear in what I wanted to do. I gave them the option, that if they feel I shouldn't (remain captain in Tests and/or ODIs), the decision is in their hands."

The clarity in which he answered the questions and his support for Rohit Sharma as the new white-ball captain has shut down all the noises that were questioning his commitment to Indian cricket. 

"Rohit is a very able captain and we have seen it in the IPL as well as for India. [Rahul] Dravid is also very valuable. Both of them will have my absolute support. There is no problem between me and Rohit. I have been clarifying for the last two and a half years or so. I'm really tired."