Virat Kohli is likely to opt out of the ODI series in South Africa as Rohit Sharma takes over as captain of the national team's 50-over side.
The BCCI is yet to announce Kohli sitting out the ODI series, but sources have told NDTV that he has informed the board that he would be taking a break in January.
Kohli will captain the touring side in the Test series starting this month and could return to India after that as his daughter's first birthday coincides with the ODI series.
It is not known at the moment whether Kohli's expected withdrawal from the series is connected to his removal as captain, but the former skipper's silence since the announcement has triggered rumours that he was unwilling to relinquish the post.
Since then, speculations of a rift between Kohli and Sharma have been making the rounds, but BCCI officials and Sharma have denied it.
"Five years that he led the team, he led from the front every time, we stepped onto the park, and there was clear grit and determination to win every game, that was the message to the entire squad," Sharma said on the sidelines of Indian Test squad's training session.
"We have had a great time playing under him (Kohli) and I have played a lot of cricket under him, I have enjoyed each and every moment, still continue to do that," the new white-ball captain put an end to all the conjectures that have been drawn about the professional relationship between the two.
Sharma will not be available for the Test series as he has suffered a hamstring inury, but is expected to make it back in time for the white-ball matches.
He was named India's white-ball captain on December 8. On Monday, it was announced that he would not figure in the Test squad and that Priyank Panchal would replace him in the side.
The three-Test series starts on December 26 and the three-ODI series starts on January 19.
- With inputs from PTI
