Despite uncertainty, Kohli wants team to be prepared for SA tour

Amid the cloud of uncertainty that hovers over India's tour of South Africa, batting mainstay Virat Kohli said the upcoming rubber is important as it will "set the standards for this young" national cricket team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India and Cricket South Africa are at loggerheads since the latter appointed Haroon Lorgat as its CEO.

Lorgat's differences with the BCCI are well known since the South African was CEO of the ICC, having locked horns with Indian board president Srinivasan on a number of issues, including the use of controversial Decision Review System.

"South Africa tour is something we are looking forward to. The tour will set the standards of this team; we have got a young team. We are hoping to get a few games there, I can't say more than that," Kohli said.

Though a consensus is still awaited on the much-awaited tour, an optimistic Kohli said the team "should be well-prepared".

The 24-year-old batting star, who has already amassed over 4500 runs in ODIs and is seen as a future India captain, said he is looking forward to a good start to the season, which kicks-off with the seven-match ODIs series against Australia.

"We are excited and hope to have a good start to the season. Australia has always been a strong side and we can't take them lightly (whether they are with or without regular skipper Michael Clarke or not)," he said during a promotional event for Herbalife, a company that sells nutrition weight management and skin care products. 

Talking about Yuvraj Singh's return to the squad, Kohli said, "I never had any doubt that Yuvraj would come back to the national team.

"He has always been a great player. I am really happy for him but, more than that, what I liked most was that he had gone to France for (fitness) training.

"I am glad that he has done that; he had no contact with others, and you will see that on the field."

He also said he is looking forward to be part of Sachin Tendulkar's 200th Test match.

"Sachin has achieved one success after another. There can be no bigger achievement than playing in the 200th Test. We all are looking forward to that."

Kohli, who walked into the press conference an hour-and-a-half hour late due to an occasion at home, said he has proved with performances on the field that he is not all about "funky clothes".

"They thought that I am brash as I have tattoos and used gel. But people didn't see my potential. I have worked hard and over a period of time, by doing some serious on-field stuffs, have proved that I am not all about funky clothes.”