Truth hurts and well, most cricket fans in India would understand and realise by now that all is not well between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Virat Kohli. To be precise, there seems to be a very clear glaring gap in communication between Test captain Kohli and board prez Sourav Ganguly. The latter, while addressing Kohli’s removal as ODI skipper earlier, had said that he personally, in his capacity of BCCI president had requested the 33-year old to not quit captaincy of the shortest format. He said, “It’s like I said I personally requested him (Kohli) not to give up the T20I captaincy. Obviously, he felt the workload. Which is fine, he has been a great cricketer, he has been very intense with his cricket. He has captained for a long period of time and these things happen.” Virat Kohli Says He Was Informed by BCCI About Him Not Being ODI Captain ‘1.5 Hours Before Selection Meeting’
However, Kohli’s truth bomb today seemed to come as a surprise to many. The star batsman said that his decision of quitting leadership of India’s T20I side was well-received and taken as a progressive call by the BCCI. Kohli revealed, “It was received well and looked at as a progressive step and one in the right direction. That time, I told the BCCI that I want to continue as ODI and Test captain unless the BCCI office-bearers or the selectors want me not to do. I clarified this as well in the phone call. My communication with the BCCI was very clear. I also gave them the option that if the BCCI office-bearers of the selectors want to take a decision, I am okay with it.” This contradiction is a big, big development. Clearly, someone’s not telling the truth here. Virat Kohli Press Conference: From ODI Captaincy to Opening Up About the Rift With Rohit Sharma, 5 Important Statements By India’s Test Skipper Ahead of IND vs SA Series 2021-22
The general consensus would side with Kohli on this. The talismanic cricketer has always worn his heart on his sleeve, never stepped down from showing love and passion for whichever team he has represented and has always been clear in handling speculations and rumours. Even today, the calmness with which he handled all questions encircling various kinds of rumours relating to his alleged rift with Rohit Sharma and also his ODI captaincy removal has been applauded by many. The Test skipper also revealed how he was sacked as ODI skipper over a phone call, bashing all reports of a ‘prior 48-hour notice’ given to him by the BCCI. He did not hide anything but spoke out the bare truth, something that, in all likelihood, would disappoint some top honchos in the BCCI.
While many had speculated Kohli to be involved in some sort of a ‘rivalry’ with Rohit Sharma (and subsequent reports of him missing the South Africa ODI series further fuelled the fire), by the end of the day, a different conflict is allegedly taking shape–one between Kohli and board president Sourav Ganguly and this is, not a good thing for Indian cricket, going forward. Still, Kohli did not mind opening up a Pandora’s Box and well, the future developments on this issue might just dictate the way Indian cricket is to move forward. Especially with Ganguly as the President and Kohli as the Test skipper, a format in which he has achieved considerable success as a skipper.
So, it was not Kohli vs Rohit afterall! In fact, it has now turned out to be two polarising figures- Kohli and Ganguly. Any cricket fan in India would perhaps want this to stop even before it takes the shape of something big and bad. Well, time is the only judge here.
(The above story first appeared on Today News 24 on Dec 15, 2021 05:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website todaynews24.top).
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