Mumbai: Aren’t we aware of the straightforward outspoken nature of Virat Kohli? He came, he spoke and turned the route in a new different direction leading to a highly suspicious controversy.
For the first time since losing the white-ball captaincy, India’s Test captain addressed a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday, contradicting BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, alleging that no communication was made to him about not relinquishing the T20I captaincy. He also denied reports that he will skip the ODI leg of the South African trip.
“Whatever was said about the communication that happened about the decision that was made was inaccurate.”
“I was contacted one and half hours before selection meeting on 8th for Test series and there was no prior communication to me at all since I announced my decision on T20 captaincy decision until the 8th of December, where I got a call before the selection meeting. I was never told not to give up T20I captaincy. The chief selector discussed with me the Test team, to which we both agreed. And before ending the call, I was told the five selectors have decided I will not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, ‘okay, fine’. In the selection call afterwards, we chatted about it briefly. That’s what happened. There was no communication prior to that at all,” added Kohli.
On the other hand Ganguly had mentioned that he had personally spoken to Kohli about the decision to name Rohit Sharma as the new ODI captain and that so did the chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma.
“It was decided that Virat will continue as Test captain and Rohit will take over as the white-ball captain. I as President personally spoke to Virat Kohli and the chairman of selectors has also spoken to him,” Ganguly told ANI.
BCCI president had further mentioned that Kohli was asked to not step down from captaincy in T20Is, but Kohli contradicted that too as he said that his decision of stepping down from T20I captaincy was well received by the Indian cricket board.
The BCCI has a reputation for being tight-lipped on a number of significant matters, and its decisions have frequently caused debate in the cricketing fraternity. Kohli, as it turns out, is the latest victim of the board’s secrecy, but the great batsman was sure to clear the air on the ‘captaincy snub’ and his relationship with Rohit Sharma.
Kohli when talking about why he was removed as ODI captain said: “Obviously, we have not won ICC tournaments. I can understand the reasons. There was no debate as to whether the decision was right or wrong. Whatever decision the BCCI made was taken from a logical point of view, which is totally understandable.”
“No problem between me and Rohit. I have grown tired explaining that over the last two-and-a-half years. Rohit is a very able captain. Tactically very sound. And Rahul bhai (Dravid) is a great man-manager,” said Kohli while putting an end on the dressing-room rift rumours.
