Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, was absolutely shocked and left upset with the handling of the Indian Test skipper by the BCCI and national selectors in the captaincy change issue following the latter’s explosive press conference on December 15.
On Wednesday, Kohli revealed that he was never asked to stay as India’s T20 captain, just opposite to the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly’s statement, and even was informed one-and-a-half hours before the Test squad selection meeting about his sacking as India’s ODI captain last week.
Sharma told India News: “This is definitely shocking and this is news to me as well that Virat Kohli said something like this in the press conference. What comment should I give, about why it has happened and why such a thing should not have happened.”
He also denied that the BCCI’s decision to remove Kohli as ODI captain was based on his current form in international cricket.
He said, “I would not like to comment too much on this. I will only want to say that they are the authority and whatever decision they have taken, they would have taken it thoughtfully and my statement about this does not hold any significance, whether they have done right or wrong.”
On the "contrasting statements" by Ganguly and Kohli, Sharma said: “This is something unusual I have heard, I didn't see Virat's press conference as well. This communication gap should not have happened. According to me, there should be transparency between them and I don't know why this has happened or why such a communication gap was there.”
He also opened up about the rumors of Kohli asking for a break during the ODI series against South Africa, saying it was “certainly surprising”.
Sharma signed off by saying, “Virat never wants to step aside from playing, he is always ready to play. This news was certainly surprising that he has asked for leave because of his daughter's birthday. Her birthday is on the 11th and at that time he will be playing the Test match.”
