Out going India captain Virat Kohli has rejected BCCI chairman Sourav Ganguly’s claims that he personally requested Virat Kohli to not step down as T20I captain.
Virat Kohli highlighted the lack of communication with the BCCI over the manner in which he was sacked as ODI captain on the day the 18-man squad for the Test series in South Africa (starting December 26) was announced.
Refuting Ganguly’s comments, Kohli said his decision to quit T20I captaincy was received well by the BCCI and the selectors and no one had told him to reconsider the decision.
While announcing his decision to quit T20I captaincy, Kohli mentioned in his social media post that he wanted to continue as ODI and Test captain. However, Kohli said on Wednesday that he had clearly communicated to the BCCI that he will accept any decision that the office-bearers and the selectors take on him retaining the captaincy of the ODI team.
“When I communicated with the BCCI first about quitting T20I captaincy, I told them that this is my point of view, these are the reasons for my decision, it was received quite well. No one took offence, no one had any hesitation. No one told me that I should not leave the T20I captaincy,” Kohli told the press.
Sacked over a phone call
“I was contacted one-and-a-half hour before selection for Tests. The chief selector discussed with me the Test squad.
Before the call ended, I was told that the five selectors have decided that I won’t be ODI captain anymore. There was no prior communication about this,” Kohli said in Wednesday’s press conference.
Kohli also clarified that he will be available for the three-match ODI series and had never asked for a break, contrary to media reports earlier this week.
“I am available for selection for ODIs in South Africa,” Kohli said. “People are writing lies. I have never asked for rest,” he added.
Earlier, media reports quoting BCCI sources had claimed that Kohli would opt out of the ODI series in South Africa.
According to these reports, Kohli had asked the BCCI for a break to be with his family. Kohli had taken a break during the recent T20I series against New Zealand and the first of the two Test matches against the Kiwis.
No Rift With Rohit Sharma
Kohli also clarified that there was no rift between him and Rohit.
“I can understand the reasons. BCCI has taken the reasons from a logical point of view. There is no problem between me and Rohit Sharma. I have been clarifying for the past two years and I am tired.