India cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes Test series defeat in South Africa could be a reason behind Virat Kohli's decision to quit Test captaincy. Kohli announced his decision a day after India's 2-1 series defeat against the Proteas.
India won the first Test match in Centurion but went on to lose the last two matches. However, Kohli was not available in the second Test match due to an upper back spasm and KL Rahul had led the team in his absence.
Gavaskar, who is 'not surprised' by the call, said the overseas series defeats are not taken well by BCCI and the captain is always in danger of getting removed from the role. Kohli has earlier led the team to a series win in Australia, and India led by 2-1 in England under his leadership before the last Test got postponed.
ALSO READ: Anushka Sharma pens down an emotional post for Virat Kohli as he gives up Test captaincy
"I'm not surprised at all. I thought that it might have come at the presentation ceremony, but that would have looked like it has come out of a sense of anger having lost the series. So, I think a little bit of gap and the decision has come," Gavaskar said on India Today.
"As a captain, I have experienced that series defeats overseas are not taken too kindly by the board and the cricket loving public or board officials. The captain is in danger of being sacked. That has happened in the past and I'm pretty certain that this could have happened this time around because this was a series that India was expected to win and win easily," he added.
Gavaskar was asked if BCCI would have actually sacked Kohli due to the series loss in South Africa, and he replied there was a possibility. "There is every possibility of that, looking at what had transpired earlier on," he said.
"Looking at the fact that he had been removed as ODI captain. Yes, having lost this series, that was always possible. If you don't win, what happens? Doesn't matter if he's been individually successful, in a team sport, the captain is the one where the buck stops," he added.
(With India Today Inputs)
