Sourav Ganguly Clarifies Virat Kohli’s Captaincy Exit from Limited Overs

Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has set the record straight, denying claims of forcibly removing Virat Kohli from the Indian captaincy. In a recent revelation, Ganguly clarified the circumstances surrounding Kohli’s departure from limited-overs captaincy roles.

“I didn’t remove Virat from captaincy… He was not interested to lead in T20Is. So, after he made that decision, I told him, if you’re not interested to lead in T20Is, it’s better if you step down from entire white-ball cricket,” Ganguly conveyed in a YouTube video.

Kohli’s decision to relinquish the T20I captaincy in late 2021 preceded Rohit Sharma’s appointment as the ODI captain, a move met without any initial explanation from the BCCI. However, Ganguly’s claims of attempting to dissuade Kohli from leaving the T20I helm were contradicted by Kohli himself, highlighting a discrepancy in communication between him and the BCCI officials.

Expressing his viewpoint, Kohli asserted that the BCCI’s initial communication regarding the ODI captaincy came a mere 90 minutes before the decision-making meeting, indicating a lack of prior consultation or discussion.

While Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy reins across all formats, India’s quest for an ICC trophy remained unfulfilled. Ganguly had earlier expressed his desire for Rohit Sharma to lead India in all formats until the 2024 T20 World Cup, emphasizing the need for consistency in leadership.

However, concerns have arisen over both Kohli and Rohit’s T20 capabilities, especially with the emergence of a new generation of batsmen. Questions loom over whether the seasoned duo’s white-ball expertise will secure their spots for the upcoming World Cups in the West Indies and the USA.

As cricket enthusiasts await further developments, the dynamics of Indian cricket’s leadership roles and the prowess of its seasoned campaigners in the T20 arena continue to be subjects of intrigue and speculation.