The approaching three-match One-Day International (ODI) series versus South Africa will indeed be Virat Kohli’s 1st task in 50-over cricket after his step down as skipper last month. Despite leaving the T20I leadership, the board chose Rohit Sharma to succeed him as India’s ODI skipper. It should be mentioned, meanwhile, that Rohit will be out for the ODI series owing to an injury. Here is Kohli’s Role In South Africa ODI Series.

Kohli’s Role In South Africa ODI Series

As a result, KL Rahul is slated to captain the side in the 3 ODIs against South Africa. Gautam Gambhir was addressed when seeing a refreshed Kohli with the bat during a conversation. He believed that the former Team India captain should be seeking to score runs rather than command, and captaincy isn’t anyone’s birthright. Gambhir made an example of MS Dhoni, upon how he played under Virat Kohli’s captaincy after exiting from the leadership role.

It’s an honor playing for the country: Gautam Gambhir

“What new do you want to see? Captaincy is not anyone’s birthright. People like MS Dhoni have given the captaincy baton to Virat Kohli, he has played under Virat Kohli as well. He has won three ICC trophies and four IPL trophies as well,” said Gautam Gambhir.

“I think Kohli should look to score runs and that is more important. When you dream of playing for India, you don’t dream to become a captain. You dream of winning games for India and nothing changes, except that you are not going out there to do the toss and set the field placement, but your energy and intensity should remain the same because it’s an honor playing for the country,” he added.

When asked regarding Gambhir‘s contribution, the 33-year-old responded that “doesn’t change even one bit. Exactly the same (role) that he had when he was captaining the side. Batting at No. 3, scoring lots and lots of runs, and probably anchoring the innings as well. When Rohit Sharma comes in with KL Rahul at the top of the order, Kohli’s role doesn’t change one bit,” he said.

It should be mentioned that India’s current number 3 batsman in limited-overs cricket has not featured an ODI in quite some duration. His last ODI came versus England in 2021 March. Despite dropping the Test series 2-1, India and Kohli would not want to come back home blank, therefore they will promote their best to secure the ODI series.