Virat Kohli, India’s Test captain and former white-ball captain, has decided to skip the ODI series in South Africa, which starts from December 17. Kohli had informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he needed a break from limited-overs cricket and wanted to spend time with his family, especially his daughter, who will turn one year old in January. Kohli will, however, be available for the two Test matches that follow the ODI series.
Sharma replaces Kohli as white-ball captain
Rohit Sharma, who was recently appointed as India’s T20I captain, has also been named as the ODI captain, taking over from Kohli. The BCCI announced the change in leadership while naming the Test squad for the South Africa tour on Wednesday. Sharma will now lead India in both the shorter formats of the game, while Kohli will continue to captain the Test team. Sharma has been India’s most successful captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading Mumbai Indians to five titles.
BCCI wanted clarity and separation between formats
According to a senior BCCI official, the decision to appoint Sharma as the new ODI captain was taken by the selectors, who wanted to have absolute clarity and separation between red-ball and white-ball cricket. The BCCI also wanted to avoid any confusion or controversy over the split captaincy issue, which had been brewing since Kohli stepped down from the T20I captaincy in September. Kohli had expressed his desire to remain the ODI captain, but the BCCI wanted a change in the white-ball leadership, especially after India’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup.
Sharma ruled out of Test series due to injury
Sharma, however, will not be able to play in the Test series in South Africa, as he has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Sharma suffered the injury during the IPL and aggravated it during the T20 World Cup. He is expected to recover in three weeks and will be ready to lead the white-ball team in the ODI series. Priyank Panchal has replaced Sharma in the Test squad, while Shubman Gill is likely to open the batting with Mayank Agarwal.
India’s tour of South Africa begins on December 10
India’s tour of South Africa will begin with three T20Is, starting from December 10 in Durban. The three-match ODI series will follow from December 17 in Johannesburg. The two Test matches will be played from December 26 in Centurion and January 3 in Cape Town. The tour will be India’s first international assignment after the T20 World Cup, where they failed to qualify for the semi-finals. South Africa, on the other hand, will be playing their first series under their new head coach Mark Boucher.
![gain Rise in Gold Rate in India After Falling Rs 21,200/24K; Will Gold Price Today Jump or Drop on 28 March? By Harshika Yadav Published: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 6:55 [IST] preference Add as a preferred source on Google Gold rates in India witnessed a modest recovery on March 27, 2026, after a sharp fall in the previous session, indicating a cautious stabilisation in the bullion market. The yellow metal had dropped by Rs 212 per gram (or Rs 21,200 per 100 grams) of 24 Karat (24K) earlier, but managed to regain some ground. Gold Price Updates as US-Iran Tensions Ease; Pakistan, Turkiye & Egypt Step Up Mediation Efforts The rise in yellow metal follows easing geopolitical concerns after US President Donald Trump signalled a delay in potential military action against Iran's energy infrastructure by 10 days, pushing the deadline to April 6. This development, along with ongoing diplomatic efforts, has helped support safe-haven demand. gold Rate Today Further adding to market sentiment, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Islamabad is acting as an intermediary between the United States and Iran, relaying messages as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions. Countries like Türkiye and Egypt are also reportedly supporting the mediation process, offering some relief to global financial markets. Gold Rate in India: Check Latest 22K, 24K & 18K Gold Prices Per Gram 24 Karat Gold Rate Today in India In the 24 Karat segment, at the time of writing, the rate for 1 gram stood at Rs 14,471, rising by Rs 16 from Rs 14,455. For 8 grams, the price increased to Rs 1,15,768, up by Rs 128. The rate for 10 grams climbed to Rs 1,44,710, reflecting a gain of Rs 160, while 100 grams of 24 Karat gold were priced at Rs 14,47,100, marking an increase of Rs 1,600. 22 Karat Gold Rate Today in India The price of one gram of 22K stood at Rs 13,265, gaining Rs 15 from the previous session. For 8 grams, the rate rose to Rs 1,06,120, registering an increase of Rs 120. The cost of 10 grams advanced to Rs 1,32,650, up by Rs 150, while 100 grams were priced at Rs 13,26,500, reflecting a gain of Rs 1,500. 18 Karat Gold Rate Today in India The rate for one gram of 18K stood at Rs 10,853, up by Rs 12. For 8 grams, the price moved up to Rs 86,824, marking a gain of Rs 96. The rate for 10 grams climbed to Rs 1,08,530, increasing by Rs 120, while 100 grams were valued at Rs 10,85,300, reflecting an uptick of Rs 1,200. Latest MCX Gold Price In the domestic futures market, gold on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) held firm above the Rs 1,44,500 level as per latest trading record, supported largely by the weakness in the Indian rupee, which continues to cushion local prices despite global volatility. Latest Spot Gold Rate The rebound in domestic gold rates comes alongside a recovery in international markets, where gold moved above the $4,400 per ounce mark. What Lies Ahead for Gold Prices? Check Gold Rate Prediction Jateen Trivedi, VP - Research Analyst (Commodity and Currency), LKP Securities, said, "Gold remained slightly positive, trading above $4,425 with highs near $4,475, supported by initial optimism around US-Iran talks. However, the sharp rise in crude continues to signal underlying market stress and inflation risks." From a technical perspective, he explained, "Technically, support is seen near Rs 1,42,000, while resistance is placed around Rs 1,46,500. Overall, gold is expected to remain volatile with limited upside unless clarity emerges on inflation and geopolitics."](https://keralanews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/rupee-and-dollar-scaled-120x86.png)
