Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri said that one's captaincy should not be judged by the number of ICC titles won, rather it should be on how the cricketer played and whether it was with integrity.
This comes after Virat Kohli stepped down as the Test captain of the Indian team two weeks ago after the 2-1 series loss. He had already quit as T20I captain after the T20 World Cup in 2021 and was replaced as ODI captain as well as a result.
"Many players have not won the World Cup, Sourav Ganguly has not won it, Rahul Dravid has not won it, Anil Kumble has not won it, Laxman has not won it. Even Rohit Sharma has not won it but it does not mean they are bad players. You go and play, there are just World Cup-winning captains -- MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev. Sachin Tendulkar took six World Cups to lift his first title," Shastri told ANI in an exclusive interview.
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"It is not a question that you are judged by the World Cup, at the end of the day, you are judged on how you play, whether you play the game with integrity. That is how you judge the players at the end of the day," he added.
Virat Kohli had contradicted BCCI President Sourav Ganguly’s statements on why he was removed from ODI captaincy. Ganguly had also said that he had asked Kohli to not leave the T20I captaincy, but the 33-year-old said that nothing like that was conveyed to him.
"I do not know what communication happened between both parties (Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli). I have not spoken to them when I get the chance to talk to them, then I can speak to give my viewpoint. When you have half-knowledge, then you should be quiet. When you have full knowledge, then you should be speak," said Shastri.
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When asked whether Rohit Sharma is fit enough to be the next Test captain, Shastri said: "I have not watched cricket for three months, when I see the cricket then I can give my judgment. If I have not seen then I will not give my verdict."
Talking about Virat's decision to leave Test captaincy, Shastri said: "There is a time for everything, you have to respect Virat's choice. Many players in the past have left the captaincy to focus on their batting or cricket, be it Sunil Gavaskar or anyone. I have not seen anything, I do not think there will be much change in Kohli."
(ANI inputs)
