Virat Kohli denied being approached by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for ODI captaincy change, but sources close to the board confirmed that the now Test-only captain was kept in the loop after which the decision was made.
Soon after the Indian Test skipper delivered an explosive press conference in the build-up to India’s tour of South Africa on Thursday, sources within the board said that a big decision like captaincy change cannot be taken by one person and that the former limited-overs skipper was kept in the loop after which the decision was made.
Virat Kohli Was Kept In The Loop: BCCI Unhappy With His Press Conference
The BCCI officials are also said to be unhappy with the way Virat Kohli handled the press conference.
“A change in captaincy is not a small decision and Kohli was kept in loop before the decision was made,” sources said.
Indian Test skipper was recently replaced by Rohit Sharma as India’s new white-ball captain when the BCCI furnished the final squad for the high-profile Test series between India and hosts South Africa. Indian opener Rohit Sharma was also appointed as Virat Kohli’s deputy in the longest and oldest format of the game before being injured and ruled out of the 3 Tests.
From his removal as One Day International (ODI) captain to his equation with opener Rohit Sharma, the Indian Test skipper touched on several topics and shared his views about the same in the traditional press conference ahead of theSouth Africa tour on Wednesday. Taking cognizance of Virat Kohli’s recent remarks in the media interaction, a BCCI source said in complete confidentiality about the decision to bring in a change in ODI captaincy.
India’s most successful captain in Test history, Virat Kohli had earlier opted to step down as the leader of the Asian giants in the shortest format. The 2021 edition of the ICC World T20 2021 was the regular skipper’s last event as India’s captain in the shortest format. Veteran all-format opener Rohit Sharma had succeeded Virat Kohli as India’s new T20I captain after the World Cup 2021, where India was ousted from the group stage itself.
Virat Kohli Contradicted Sourav Ganguly’s Statement Saying There Wasn’t Any Prior Information Since He Announced To Relinquish T20 Captaincy
Speaking about the changing of the guards in Indian cricket, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had revealed that he personally requested Virat Kohli to not relinquish the captainship in the shortest format. On Wednesday, Virat Kohli openly contradicted Sourav Ganguly’s statements and asserted that the BCCI never asked him to reconsider giving up the leadership role in T20Is.
“Whatever was said about the communication that happened about the decision that was made was inaccurate. I was contacted one and half hours before the selection meeting on the 8th for the Test series and there was no prior communication to me at all since I announced my decision on T20 captaincy,” Kohli said in his press conference ahead of the South Africa tour.
The Indian Test team departed for South Africa on Thursday for a three-match series beginning at Centurion on December 26. India will also play three ODIs after the Test series. Virat Kohli will lead the Indian Test team while Rohit Sharma, if fit, will captain the ODI side from January 19.
Sourav Ganguly had further mentioned that Virat Kohli was asked to not step down from captaincy in T20Is, but Virat Kohli contradicted that too as he said that his decision of stepping down from T20I captaincy was well received by the Indian cricket board. It would be advisable for the duo to sort out the issue between themselves and release a joint statement to the media. Such differences, if they persist, will only be detrimental to Indian cricket.