Virat Kohli Was Kept In Loop; Change In ODI Captaincy Was A Collective Decision - BCCI Sources

As soon as Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli delivered an explosive press conference on the eve of the Indian team’s departure for the South Africa series, the cricket fraternity was abuzz with rumours and speculations starting flying around about the lack of communication between the BCCI and the captain.

Indian Test skipper Kohli was recently replaced by Rohit Sharma as India’s new white-ball captain when the BCCI announced the final squad for the high-profile Test series between India and hosts South Africa on December 8.

While BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had stated that he had personally asked Virat Kohli not to step down as T20I captain, Kohli revealed that no one from the BCCI had talked to him in this matter.

Kohli also said that there was no communication to him about the selectors replacing him as ODI captain and he was only told one and a half hours before the official announcement was made.

“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,” Kohli said in his press conference ahead of the South Africa tour.

Rohit Sharma was also named Virat Kohli’s deputy in Test cricket, replacing Ajinkya Rahane as the vice-captain.

Virat Kohli Was Kept In Loop Before The Decision Was Made: BCCI Sources

Reacting to Virat Kohli’s statements during the presser, sources within the board told Times Now, that a big decision like captaincy change is not made by just one official and that Kohli was kept in the loop after which the decision was made.

Taking knowledge of Kohli’s recent comments in the media interaction, a BCCI source told Times Now in complete discretion about the decision to bring in a change in ODI captaincy.

“A change in captaincy is not a small decision and Virat Kohli was kept in loop before the decision was made,” sources said.

Kohli had opted to step down as T20I captain after the T20 World Cup 2021 but had expressed the desire to continue leading the Indian team in ODIs and Test matches. However, it was said by BCCI President that the selection panel felt that there cannot be two captains in white-ball formats and hence Rohit Sharma was named the new T20I and ODI captain going forward.

Also Read: Sourav Ganguly Is The BCCI President And Surely He Should Be Asked Why There Is This Discrepancy – Sunil Gavaskar On Virat Kohli’s Statements