"Was told hour-and-a-half before Test squad announcement" - Kohli on captaincy snub

The Chetan Sharma-led selection committee announced the Test squad for the South Africa tour on December 8 and Virat Kohli said it was only an hour-and-a-half before the announcement he was informed that he would no longer be India's ODI captain. The 33-year-old also confirmed that he is available for the ODI series, and also spoke about various matters in the pre-departure press conference. 

"I was contacted one-and-a-half hours before the selection meeting on the eighth December for the Test series. There was no prior communication to me at all since I announced the T20I captaincy decision until the 8th of December, where I got a call before the selection meeting. The chief selector discussed with me the Test team, to which we both agreed," said Kohli.

"And before ending the call, I was told the five selectors have decided I will not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, 'okay, fine', and in the selection call afterward, we chatted about it briefly. That's what happened. There was no communication prior to that at all.

"I can understand why - the reason, we haven't won an ICC tournament. Whether the decision they took is right or wrong, there's no debate. It's a logical decision which I understand. The events that transpired and the way I was communicated, I've told you."

Kohli announced ahead of the T20 World Cup that he would step down as India's T20I captain after the mega event and the batting maestro said his decision was received well by the BCCI. However, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently said he had suggested Kohli to reconsider his decision.

"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."

India will be without Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja in the Test series. While the opener was ruled out after sustaining a left hamstring injury during his training session in Mumbai, Jadeja has a ligament tear. 

"The team will miss Rohit Sharma in Tests because he was looking really good in England. This will also be the time that Rahul and Mayank cash in and get us good starts as they have done recently. Jadeja has been an important player for us. He contributes in all the departments. Having said that, we have quality in the side. We have created the bench strength and environment where people have been grabbing their opportunities. I wish him (Jadeja) a speedy recovery," said Kohli.

South Africa is the final frontier that the Indian Test team is yet to conquer but skipper Kohli firmly believes that his side can do "something special" in the upcoming tour. India had created history by beating Australia on their own turf twice, and were leading England 2-1 before their UK tour was abruptly suspended earlier this year. India have played 20 Tests in South Africa, winning only three, and in their last tour in 2018, they gave a tough fight but still lost the series 1-2.

In the history of Test cricket, there are only three teams -- England, Australia and Sri Lanka -- who have managed to beat South Africa in their their own backyard. "We are very well placed in terms of experience, belief and confidence that this time around we can do something special and get the results that we want as a team and overcome probably the toughest conditions to go and win a series.

"South Africa is one place where we have not won a series yet. So we are very motivated to do that. And the mindset is always to go there and win a series in any country that we play. We don't anymore think of just winning a Test here and there and we will do our absolute best that we can as a team and make sure that we keep contributing towards that cause.

"If we have the right mindset then we start off the series with a lot of confidence and belief we can definitely stand up to any challenge that comes our way and take a lot of heart from it. We will take a lot of motivation and a lot of belief from that victory."

(With inputs from PTI)