ICC Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli Keen To Defend Title, Wants Ajinkya Rahane As Opener

May 7, 2017 at 10:50 AM

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ICC Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli Keen To Defend Title, Wants Ajinkya Rahane As Opener

India skipper Virat Kohli has reportedly told the BCCI about his desire to play in the upcoming edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Speculations are rife over India’s participation in the mega even after the BCCI deliberately missed the April 25 deadline for submission of the squad in the wake of the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposing a new financial model which reduces BCCI’s revenues from USD 570 million to USD 293 million.

Recent reports are suggesting that the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators have ordered the BCCI to announce the squad at the earliest but as of now nothing positive has come out. And with uncertainty prevailing all around, ABP has reported that Kohli has told the officials he is keen to defend the trophy that the team won in England four years ago.

Earlier, a report in the India Today had claimed that the Committee of Administrators had assured an anxious Kohli that Team India would play in the eight-team tournament which is beginning from June 1 in England.

“Virat Kohli was feeling anxious and down, we have allayed his fears and assured him that India will play the Champions Trophy,” sources were quoted as saying by India Today.

ABP further reported that the India skipper not only expressed his desire to play in the upcoming tournament but has also revealed the name of the player he wants as an opener in the team.

With KL Rahul all but out of the tournament owing to a shoulder injury, Team India are set to announce a new partner for Rohit Sharma for the Champions Trophy and while many are seeing Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir as the front-runners to grab the slot, Kohli has told the board he wants Ajinkya Rahane in the team.

Gambhir has been in brilliant form in the ongoing Indian Premier League, scoring 411 runs in 11 matches compared to 248 in 12 matches. However, Kohli, who was appointed the ODI skipper earlier this year, wants to see the Mumbai batsman to partner Rohit Sharma at the top.

Meanwhile, Team India coach Anil Kumble has also told the BCCI not to jeopardise India’s participation in the tournament due to the ongoing tussle with the ICC. According to a report in The Mumbai Mirror, the former India leg-spinner had conveyed to cricket board that the team is looking forward to defending its title reign in England.

Several former Indian cricketers have also voiced their support for team India to participate in the Champions Trophy. As per an ESPNCricinfo report, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Zaheer Khan, Gundappa Viswanath, Sandeep Patil, Sanjay Manjrekar, Aakash Chopra, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Saba Karim, Murali Kartik, and Deep Dasgupta had said they were in favour of India playing in the showpiece event.

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