The removal of Virat Kohli from the post of ODI captain has created a furore amongst the fans. While some are backing the decision, others are outrightly upset at the shocking decision. The netizens shared their mixed reactions on the whole incident asking the BCCI to explain why the decision was taken out of the blue. Amidst all the commotion, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly explains why Kohli was removed from ODI leadership.
Virat Kohli has a sensational record in the ODI format and the team only got better under his leadership. The ex-ODI captain had announced that he will step down from T20 captaincy after the T20I World Cup, which he did. Post his departure from T20 captaincy, there were speculations about his ODI leadership which came to be true on 08th December. Now, Sourav Ganguly explains why Kohli was sacked from ODI leadership.
Sourav Ganguly explains their decision to remove Kohli
Kohli’s decision to leave T20 captaincy was a part of his workload management, however Kohli never wanted to leave ODI and Test captaincy. Sourav Ganguly explains what led the selection committee to take such a decision. Talking to TimesNow, Ganguly said, “It’s a call that the BCCI and the selectors took together. Actually, the BCCI had requested Virat to not step down as the T20I skipper but obviously, he did not agree. And the selectors then did not feel it right to have two different captains for two white-ball formats.”
On 08th December, BCCI announced the Test squad for the South Africa tour which was followed by the Tweet that surprised all the Indian cricket fans. The tweet announced Rohit Sharma as the new skipper for the Indian team in the ODI format. Rohit Sharma has ample experience leading the side and even led the team to win Asia Cup in 2018 and Nidahas Trophy in the same year.
Backing Rohit Sharma and thanking Kohli, Sourav Ganguly explains, “We have full faith in Rohit Sharma’s leadership abilities, and Virat will continue as the Test captain. We as BCCI are confident that Indian cricket is in good hands. We thank Virat Kohli for his contributions as captain in the white-ball format.”
Kohli will continue his role as the skipper in the Test format, while the baton has been passed to Rohit Sharma to lead the team in the T20I and ODI format. Kohli was a successful ODI captain and the team won 65 out of 95 matches under his leadership.