Giving Up Captaincy Is An Option In Order To Play Freely- Kapil Dev On Virat Kohli's Resignation

Former Indian World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev said that it was the right call by Virat Kohli to give up Test captaincy as he was looking quite tense in recent times.

Kohli made his decision known on social media which brought an end to a defining era in Indian Test cricket. Under him, India won the ICC Test Mace a record five times in a row and became one of the best touring teams in the world.

“I welcome Virat’s decision to quit the Test captaincy. He was going through a rough time ever since he gave up the T20 captaincy. He has looked tense in recent times, appeared to be under a lot of pressure.”

“So giving up the captaincy was an option in order to play freely. He opted for that. He is a mature man. I am sure he must have thought hard before taking this important decision. Maybe, he wasn’t enjoying the captaincy. We have to support him and wish him luck,” Kapil told mid-day.

Sunil Gavaskar names his successor for Virat Kohli

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar put forth the name of Indian wicket-keeper batter, Rishabh Pant, to become the next captain of the Test team. Pant is just 24-years-old but he may need proper grooming before being given the captaincy.

“If you ask me, I am still staying, I would look at Pant as next India captain. For one reason only, just like Rohit Sharma was given the captaincy of Mumbai Indians when Ricky Ponting stepped down, look at the change in his batting after that.”

“Suddenly the responsibility of being captain made him convert those beautiful cameos of 30s, 40s, and 50s into hundreds, 150s, and 200s. I think that sense of responsibility given to Pant will help him score many more of that wonderful hundred he scored at Newlands,” Gavaskar said.

Kohli’s captaincy record in Tests is an envious one, as he led India to 40 wins in 68 Tests with a win percentage of 58.

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