'Soon we’ll have absolute clarity' - Virat Kohli on India's South Africa tour

India’s tour to South Africa has been hit by uncertainties after the emergence of the new variant in the host nation. However, India’s ODI and T20I skipper Virat Kohli has said that the players will get a clear idea of the tour in the next few days.

South Africa is scheduled to play three Tests, as many ODIs and four T20Is against India. However, the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant has led to a travel ban and restrictions on flights in the host country. This has in turn cast a shadow on the tour. Kohli thus asserted that everyone is working hard towards getting clarity on the same. He also added that the side is hopeful that things will get clear soon.

“We’ve been talking to the board and we are pretty confident within a day or two or pretty soon we’ll have absolute clarity as to what is going on. But yeah, look, we need to be realistic about things as well. We cannot just ignore the things that potentially could put you in a confusing place and no one wants to be there.

So I’m sure everyone’s working hard towards finding clarity and giving us the situation as it unfolds as soon as possible. And we all are hopeful that will happen soon,” Kohli said in the press conference.

We’re not playing in normal times anyways: Virat Kohli

Cricket is been played under a strict bio-secure environment owing to the ongoing pandemic. Thus, these scenarios have been pretty challenging for the players as a lot of preparations are involved. Kohli asserted that India’s head coach Rahul Dravid has initiated talks among the senior members of the Indian team regarding the upcoming South Africa tour. He also added that owing to the quarantine protocols getting clarity as soon as possible becomes pivotal.

“We’re not playing in normal times anyways. So there’s a lot of planning that’s involved. There’s a lot of preparation that’s involved in terms of understanding exactly what’s going on. There are players who are not part of the group right now who will be entering quarantine to join the team in the bubble to fly in a charter (aircraft) those kinds of things. You want to seek clarity as soon as possible,” Kohli added.