Highlights Virat Kohli press conference: No rift between me and Rohit, clarifies Kohli; available for SA ODIs

• Virat Kohli clarified during the press-conference that he is available for the selection in the ODI series against South Africa
• No problem between me and Rohit, have been clarifying for two years. I am tired now: Kohli
• Kohli said that the team will miss Rohit Sharma's services who did exceptionally well in England. He highlighted that it is the opportunity for Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul to step up in Rohit's absence
• 'I am mentally prepared and ready to go to South Africa,' says Virat Kohli
• I have always taken pride and done the best for the Indian team, says Kohli in press conference
• I have been honest with my responsibilites and I am eager to perform in the same manner, says 33-year old
• When I left T20 captaincy, I approached BCCI first about my decision and they accepted without any hesitancy without asking me to stay. I was always clear about my communication, said India's Test captain
• Kohli poured light on Jadeja's absence from the overseas series and said, "We all know Ravindra Jadeja's quality and he will be missed. But we have enough bench strength. As much as we will miss him, I am sure that will not be a deciding factor."
• "I was contacted one-and-a-half hour before the Test team was selected. There was no prior communication. The chief selector discussed the Test team. And in the end, I was told that I won’t be the captain and I said it's fine. After the meeting we had a brief chat and that's it," said Kohli on his ODI captaincy
• Former white-ball captain said, "I wasn't told to not leave the T20I captaincy."

The events have gone a little dramatic in Team India's dressing room ever since the split-captaincy episode. While Rohit Sharma's unavailability due to the hamsrting injury is confirmed for the Test series against South Africa, latest reports on Tuesday have cleared the air regarding Virat Kohli's participation in the ODI series against the Proteas. 

While the above-mentioned information may be an easy read, numerous reports and rumours had risen up regarding Kohli's non-participation in the ODI's after Rohit was handed over the leadership for the white-ball game. Amid the humbugs, reports and statements from top officials privy to the Indian dressing room, India's Test skipper will play the 50-over series in the Rainbow nation as per the latest understandings. 

While BCCI is trying to quell the rumours pertaining to the rift between the two senior players, Virat Kohli is scheduled to address media on Wednesday at 1:00 PM IST. In the virtual press-conference ahead India's tour of South Africa, clarity is likely to be sought over his participation in the ODI assignment and how the things panned out during the change of ODI captaincy to Rohit Sharma.

'Nobody bigger than sport': Sports minister Thakur on alleged rift between Kohli, Rohit

A day after former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin had tweeted about the alleged rift between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said there is no player bigger than the game.

"Sports is supreme and nobody is bigger than sport. I can't you give information as to what's going on between which players in what game. It's the job of concerned federations/associations. It'll be better if they give info," said Anurag Thakur when asked about the alleged rift between Kohli and Sharma.