In his trademark style, Virat Kohli on Wednesday asserted he’s available for the ODIs in South Africa, quashing all speculation regarding uncertainty over his participation in the three-match limited overs series scheduled next month.

But then, the India Test captain also dropped a bombshell. He was never asked by the BCCI to reconsider his decision of relinquishing the T20I captaincy, Kohli said, in complete contrast to what Board president Sourav Ganguly had claimed last week.

Kohli said there was “no prior communication” to him till December 8 (the day India’s Test squad was finalised) on his decision to quit the T20I captaincy.

Speaking to reporters during India’s pre-departure media conference ahead of the South Africa tour, Kohli said: “Whatever was said about the communication that happened during the decision that was made was inaccurate.

“There was no prior communication to me at all since I announced the T20I captaincy decision, till the 8th of December when I got a call one-and-a-half hours before the selection meeting (for the Tests versus South Africa) and the chief selector (Chetan Sharma) discussed with me the Test team to which we both agreed. And before ending the call, I was told that the five selectors have decided that I would not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, ‘Okay, fine’.

“In the selection call afterwards, we chatted about it briefly, and that’s what happened. There was no communication prior to that at all.”

Elaborating on his discussion with the BCCI, Kohli said the reasons he cited in order to discontinue leading the side in T20Is were received well by the Board. He too had made his point of view clear about his willingness to continue leading the team in ODIs, unless the BCCI and the national selectors felt otherwise.

“I had clearly communicated to the BCCI my point of view and the reasons behind my taking such a decision. That was received very well, while there wasn’t hesitation to that and no offence was taken.

“Usme mujhe yeh nahi kaha gaya thha, ‘Aap T20I captaincy na chhodey’ (I wasn’t asked not to quit T20I captaincy), but that was rather considered as a progressive step and one in the right direction. So then I had communicated that I would like to continue leading the team in ODI and Test cricket, unless the office-bearers and selectors feel I shouldn’t. That was up to them,” Kohli explained.

Sourav has said on December 9 that he had asked Kohli to reconsider his decision to quit as T20 captain. The BCCI, the president said, favoured one captain for both T20s and ODIs. Till late on Wednesday evening, there was no response from the BCCI on Kohli’s assertion, which has triggered speculation that India’s Test captain and Sourav are not on the same page.

This is one controversy the BCCI could have done without.

Available for ODIs

Confirming his presence for the South Africa ODIs, Kohli said: “I was and I am available for selection.

“I’ve not had any communication with the BCCI to say that I want to rest. So as I said, I’m available for the ODIs and I was always keen to play.”

Kohli, though, has no complaints on losing the ODI captaincy. “As for reasons (given by the Board), obviously, we couldn’t win ICC tournaments. That’s understandable.

“But there was no debate on whether the decision was right or wrong. The decision BCCI took was from a logical point of view, which is very much understandable,” he stated.

No rift with Rohit

Kohli also rebutted conjecture over not being on good terms with Rohit Sharma, India’s current limited-overs captain. “As for my terms with Rohit, we’ve never had problems, and that’s something I’ve said many times in the past. And honestly, for the last two or two-and-a-half years, I’ve been constantly clarifying it. I’m really tired doing so over and over again.

“I can guarantee that any action or communication from my part, till the time I play cricket, will never seem as if it’s putting the team down. This has always been my point of view and will remain as my commitment towards Indian cricket. Always,” he stressed.

Absolute support

Kohli stressed that as a senior member of the squad, he would try his best to “keep pushing the team in the right direction” in white-ball cricket, providing his “absolute support” to skipper Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid.

“Rohit is a very able captain and very, very tactically sound... Along with Rahulbhai who’s a very, very balanced coach, I will give my absolute support to both of them,” Kohli assured.