Former BCCI selector Kirti Azad believes that the BCCI president should have taken the responsibility to handle the captaincy saga in a better way. It has been a week since that pre-departure press conference by Virat Kohli (before the South Africa tour) but the entire story keeps finding new angles every day as Azad spoke on length about the matter in an interview with News18.
Notable that the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly told in an interview that he personally requested Virat Kohli to reconsider his resignation from the T20 captaincy. However, the Indian Test skipper stated in the press conference that such conversation never happened with any BCCI official and his resignation was received well.
“I had defended Ganguly when Greg Chappell was the coach”
Kirti Azad feels that better communication between the BCCI president and Virat Kohli would have resolved the matter more smoothly. Azad also said that Ganguly should have realized from his own experience. Notable that Kirti Azad was the national selector when the famous Ganguly-Greg Chappell saga happened and Ganguly was asked to resign from the captaincy.
“I remember how Bishan Bedi was dethroned, how Sunil Gavaskar was dethroned. Venkataraghavan was in his flight and when he landed, he was replaced as captain. At least, Sourav should have realized through his own experience,” Azad told News18 in an interview.
“I remember I had defended him when Greg Chappell was coach and he was dropped as captain. He should have learnt from his own example and spoken to Virat much earlier. I am not saying Virat is a special case. Yes, he is a special batter and a special cricketer. He leads by example and leads by example.” he added further.
Former Indian all-rounder also mentioned that the BCCI president should have been more proactive when the rumours about rift (between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma) broke out. Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin tweeted about the same when there were reports about Kohli taking a break during the ODI series against South Africa.
Virat Kohli has informed that he's not available for the ODI series & Rohit Sharma is unavailable fr d upcoming test. There is no harm in takin a break but d timing has to be better. This just substantiates speculation abt d rift. Neither wil be giving up d other form of cricket.
— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) December 14, 2021
“I feel that it should have been done in a more proper manner. BCCI should have been a little more professional on a cricketing front and with Sourav at the helm, especially when a former captain had tweeted about a rift, speculation that had been going on. These things should not come out in the public and a captain who has given so much, Virat Kohli, should have been informed well in advance,” Azad concluded.
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