I Never Thought Of Anything Like This - Kapil Dev On Virat Kohli Stepping Down As A T20I Captain After T20 World Cup
Published - 18 Sep 2021, 05:25 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:54 AM
Kapil Dev has expressed surprise at Indian captain Virat Kohli relinquishing his T20I captaincy after the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021 tournament.
Notably, the Indian all-format captain Virat Kohli will no longer be an all-format skipper of the India national cricket team. As he has decided to step down from the captaincy in T20 Internationals to manage his workload. However, he will continue to support the team as a batsman in T20Is and as a captain in ODIs and Tests.
Speaking to ABP news former Indian captain Kapil Dev told that he never expected that Kohli will step down from the T20I captaincy.
“I never thought of anything like this. But these days, I find it strange that cricketers decide themselves what to do and what not. I think selectors too should have a say on this. And I feel the cricketers should take to the selectors and the board before they take such a big decision.”
Further, the World Cup-winning captain added that it was not necessary to make this announcement very soon. He stated:
“I think it’s very important. There was no need to announce it so early. He is a brilliant player. Even if a season went bad, it doesn’t change that he is a great cricketer and a great captain,”
Cricketers these days make their own decisions: Kapil Dev
Meanwhile, Kapil Dev feels that cricketers nowadays take all the decisions by themselves. Also, he wished Virat Kohli all the best for his career.
“If he has taken this decision and spoken to the selectors, it’s ok. That’s his personal decision. I can’t really say anything. Cricketers these days make their own decisions. Just want to say ‘Well done. You have served the country so well. I wish you luck for the rest of your career’,” Kapil added.
Kapil Dev feels that everybody should respect Virat Kohli’s honesty because deciding to leave a captaincy in one format is a very bold move. However, Kapil was confused at the announcement being made through the social media platform Twitter.
“I think we should respect the honesty. He said he doesn’t want to captain in a format, which is a big thing. Dhoni did this. The only thing I find strange that these announcements are made through tweets.
“This I can’t understand. Cricketers these days can say that I don’t want to play beyond a certain point or play only the IPL or only T20. They have the courage to say these things, so hats off to them,” Kapil, India’s first Cricket World Cup-winning captain, said.
