Former India Fast Bowler Claims It Was "BCCI's Call" And Not Selectors Who Removed Virat Kohli From ODI Captaincy

Virat Kohli‘s explosive press conference after being removed as the ODI captain has led to many speculations of a rift between the Indian Test captain and the BCCI. Although he stated in the presser that he was informed about the decision by the selectors, former Indian pacer Atul Wassan feels it is the BCCI and not the selectors who took the decision to sack Kohli from the captaincy.

Wassan feels there was no need to jump to a decision, but BCCI wanted to prove a point and show that no player is bigger than the board, which led to them making this decision.

“I think Virat wanted to carry on till the 2023 World Cup, and they have done well in one-day cricket. We have not won any big trophy but generally, we have done well. He is the premium one-day batter in the world. It could have been handled better and there was no need to jump to an immediate reaction.

“Unless the board wants to send out a signal, that ‘Virat… ok, enough is enough. You are not doing well and we haven’t won much, so this is a penalty’. That’s what happened. It is not the selectors’ call; it is the board’s decision,” speaking to CNN News 18, here is what Atul Wassan had to say.

Virat Kohli’s sacking is a culmination of many things: Atul Wassan

Atul Wassan believes there are a number of factors that led to the sacking of Virat Kohli. India failed to win any ICC tournament under the leadership of Kohli and that certainly played a huge role in BCCI coming to this decision. Kohli’s form with the bat was also soon becoming a cause for concern as he has failed to hit an international century for over two years.

“It’s a culmination of many things, and the biggest factor is Virat’s form. That has contributed. If Virat was doing well and even if India did not win, nobody would have touched him, and also Ravi Shastri’s moving out.

“They worked really well. With Ravi Shastri going out and a new style of thinking coming in… Rahul Dravid is a no-nonsense guy. He would call it right away. And probably that rankling of what happened with Anil Kumble as well,” Wassan said.

Atul Wassan also added by saying that after the Anil Kumble saga, the board didn’t want to give additional powers in Kohli’s hand and Shastri stepping down was the right opportunity for them to exercise their control.

“All these things got piled up to the point where people said, ‘alright, let us look forward’. Virat would feel that he has been hard done by.

“A collective thought must have circulated among the top brass. They must have thought that this is the right time to clip Kohli’s wings so that he isn’t allowed to what he likes, and especially with Ravi no longer being there,” Wassan concluded.