Virat Kohli contradicted claims made by BCCI President Sourav Ganguly that he had personally asked the Delhi-based cricketer to not step down as the T20I captain of the Indian team.
However, Virat Kohli did highlight 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.
Unlike what Ganguly had said about Virat Kohli’s decision to quit the T20I captaincy, the Indian Test captain said that it was in fact well-received by the BCCI selection committee and no one had told him to reconsider the decision.
"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.
"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," he added.
Ravindra Jadeja puts an end to Test retirement rumors with couple of tweets
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had said in an interview with News18 that he had personally asked Kohli not to step down as T20I captain of the Indian team. He had also added that the selectors felt there was no room for having two limited-overs captains for the national team.
"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,” Ganguly had stated.
This highlights the claim of Kohli that there was no clear communication between the selectors, the board and him.
(India Today inputs)
