Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday held a fiery press conference to expose the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and the board’s secretary Jay Shah. Kohli contradicted Ganguly by saying that the BCCI had no qualms in his decision to step down as the captain of the T20 team.
Ganguly had told a website that the BCCI wanted Kohli to not step down as the captain of the T20, implying that the Indian captain had defied the cricket board.
Ganguly was quoted as saying, “It’s like I said… I personally requested him (Kohli) not to give up the T20I captaincy. Obviously, he felt the workload.”
Justifying the BCCI’s decision to strip Kohli of the ODI captaincy, Ganguly had said, “Also, they wanted only one white-ball captain. And that’s why this decision. I don’t know what’s going to happen in future. But as I said, it’s a good team and it has some fantastic players and I hope they will turn it around.”
Contradicting Ganguly’s claims, Kohli said, “I told the BCCI before giving up T20I captaincy. I told them my point of view. The BCCI received it very well. There was no offence. It was received well, saying it’s a progresive step. I told them I will continue as ODI captain and Test captain. I told them at that point clearly that if the office bearers or the selectors don’t want me to handle either of the responsibility, I am fine with it. I said this clearly when I approached the BCCI to discuss my T20I captaincy.”
Kohli added, “I was contacted one and half hour before test selection and at end of the call I was told by the 5 selectors that I won’t be captaining the ODI side.”
There were reports that Kohli had opted out of the upcomiong ODI series against South Africa. This prompted many to conclude that he was not keen to play under Rohit Sharma, who was appointed the new ODI captain.
Kohli said, “I was and I am available for selection. I haven’t had any communication to BCCI where I have asked for any break. I am available for selection for ODIs in South Africa.”
On reports of rift with Rohit Sharma, Kohli said, “There is no problem between me and Rohit Sharma. I have been clarifying for the past two years and I am tired.”
Kohli’s unusual outburst led fans to target Ganguly and Jay Shah, who is the son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah.
Rubbishing Saurav Ganguly's claims, Virat Kohli says: "I was never told that I should not leave T20I cricket captaincy."
I'd trust Kohli over Ganguly any day.
Especially when one is playing his heart out for India and the other is working under Jay Shah#ViratKohli
— Parth MN (@parthpunter) December 15, 2021
@JayShah Nd @SGanguly99 is the creator of the source ???????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/OGymRzYi2z
— One man Army (@chakra_arun644) December 15, 2021
#Kohli #viratkholi #ViratKohli #INDvsSA
Virat Kohli in the press conference to Ganguly, Jay Shah, #BCCI, Journalists, KSR, etc: pic.twitter.com/csbscBMDSJ
— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) December 15, 2021
Virat Kohli has shown more character than Saurav Ganguly, who auctioned himself out to Jay Shah
— Samrat X সম্রাট (@MrSamratX) December 15, 2021
Forget 100 Crores for #Vickat wedding…
An OTT should bid 101 Crores for a 3-hour unedited telecast of Kohli, Rohit, Ganguly *just* talking.Hosted by Jay Shah.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) December 15, 2021
India are set to play South Africa in Test and ODI series with the first Test scheduled to start this week.