The white-ball captaincy change saga took a new twist on Friday as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee chief Chetan Sharma claimed that Virat Kohli was asked to reconsider his decision of quitting T20I captaincy. Sharma’s comments differ from those of Kohli who had said that no one in the BCCI advised him against leaving captaincy in the shortest format.
The entire tale, hence, sees Chetan Sharma and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, whose comments were echoed by the chief selector in the press conference, standing at one end of the debate and Virat Kohli at another. While it still remains unclear as to why there are two different storylines running parallel to each other, former India cricketer-turned-pundit Aakash Chopra is expecting reciprocation from Kohli on the matter.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “A little more fuel has been added to the fire which was already there because the clarification has come from the BCCI via Chetan Sharma, who is the chairman of selectors.”
“Chetan Sharma has issued a clarification that we all had asked Virat not to leave the T20I captaincy, that its timing is not correct; there will be an impact on the World Cup but the captain did not agree,” he added.
Chopra remains baffled with the contradictory comments that have been made on the subject, with Chetan saying something that Kohli had categorically denied. Now, Chopra is expecting some sort of rebuttal from Kohli on the matter
“Everyone who was there in the selection committee meeting – selectors, BCCI officials, convenor – all present, requested Virat Kohli to not step down. This is Chetan Sharma’s quote, but the captain said he wanted to step down. Captain had said no one had asked him anything, and everyone said it is a very progressive step.”
“There should be no rumours and sources in 2022 although, after Chetan Sharma’s statement, the shots might have been fired and maybe there will be reciprocation from Virat Kohli’s side as well because till now that is what is happening – one person says something and the other refutes. It’s not really nice, but then if it happens, don’t be surprised,” he asserted.
Since his pre-tour press conference, Virat Kohli hasn’t spoken to the media in any press conference. Whether he will speak to media during the course of the remainder of South Africa tour, or not, remains to be seen.
