In Indian cricket, there is a growing divide. It’s all too obvious. If one wants to read it symbolically, it’s vast enough to absorb even a legend. Two legends, at least visibly, stand on opposite sides of this chasm. When they make their assertions, supporters believe them to be the absolute truth. Now, Indian fans must choose between two facts, one presented by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and the other espoused by Test captain Virat Kohli.
Kohli, who was dismissed as the national cricket team’s ODI captain, stated on Wednesday that the BCCI never asked him to stand down as the T20 leader. Kohli’s’sacking’ as ODI skipper became a national subject, with supporters condemning the board for the 33-year-unjust old’s treatment. The BCCI president was forced to explain his decision.
“We had begged Virat not to stand down as T20 captain, but he didn’t want to continue as captain,” Ganguly said of Kohli. As a result, the selectors decided that they couldn’t have two white ball leaders in two different white ball forms. That’s an excessive amount of leadership.”
“Whatever was mentioned about the conversation that transpired regarding the decision that was taken was wrong,” Kohli added. I was approached one and a half hours before the Test series [against South Africa] selection meeting on the 8th, and there had been no prior communication to me since I stated my choice on T20 captaincy.”
Kohli’s successor for the 50-overs format was picked by the BCCI selectors on December 8: Rohit Sharma, who is currently the T20 leader.
“…the chief selector discussed the Test team to which we both agreed. Before ending the call, I was told that the five selectors have decided that I will not be the ODI captain to which I replied ‘okay fine’,” Kohli added. “In the selection call afterwards we chatted about it briefly and that’s what happened.”
Kohli said why he decided to leave the T20 captaincy after the World Cup: “When I resigned the T20 captaincy, I first addressed BCCI and informed them of my choice and gave out my point of view in front of them… I explained why I wanted to step down as T20 captain, and my viewpoint was well welcomed. There was no offence taken, no hesitancy expressed, and I was never advised, “You should not quit T20 leadership.”
“On the contrary, the BCCI saw it as a positive move in the right path. At the time, I stated that sure, I would like to continue playing Tests and ODIs unless the office-bearers and selectors believe that I should not continue in this role.
“I had clarified on my call and communication to BCCI was clear. I had given that option if office bearers and selectors think otherwise, then it’s in their hands,” Kohli said during the pre-departure press conference before the tour of South Africa.
Kohli, who took a break following India’s poor performance at the T20 World Cup, returned to lead India to a convincing victory over New Zealand in the second Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In the next three-match Test series in South Africa, he will captain India.
And Kohli also dismissed rumours about him skipping the ODIs. He said: “I was and I am available for selection all the time. I never communicated with BCCI asking for rest. I am available for the ODI series in South Africa, and was always available.”
