Virat Kohli press conference: ‘No communication on ODI captaincy call,’ reveals India Test skipper

Putting an end to speculation, Virat Kohli addresses the rumour of him skipping the ODIs next month that are part of the upcoming South Africa tour — “I am available for selection,” he clarified at a press conference on Wednesday.

However, an underlying rift might have grabbed the spotlight wherein he said that he was contacted a mere one-and-a-half hours before the selection committee meet and told that he would no longer be ODI captain. According to him, BCCI never even asked him to reconsider quitting T20 leadership, contrary to the Board’s claim.

“I was contacted one-and-a-half hours before selection committee meet. The chief selector discussed the Test team. Before ending the call the selectors told me I won’t be ODI captain and I was fine. There was no prior communication,” Kohli said.

“Whatever was said about the communication that happened about the decision that was made was inaccurate,” Kohli said with obvious reference to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly’s statement about the Board requesting him not to quit as split captaincy might not work in the white-ball format.

Before ending the call, I was told that the five selectors have decided that I will not be the ODI captain to which I replied ‘okay fine’.

Kohli maintained his stance about being okay with BCCI’s decision and it not affecting future games.

He scrapped all notions of any communication with the BCCI about being rested. “This question should be asked to the people who are writing about this, not me. These are lies. I have not asked BCCI to rest me,” Kohli said.

Curiously, this is in direct contradiction to BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal himself claiming that Kohli had asked to be rested for the ODI series against South Africa.

Kohli added that he was “very motivated” to win a series in South Africa. “We have not done that before. We will do our absolute best to to make it happen,” he emphasized.

India Test captain Kohli, who was recently replaced by Rohit Sharma as the captain of the ODI and T20I teams, was rumoured to have opted out of three-match ODI series against South Africa starting 19 January. As per the report, he had planned to take a short break for personal reasons.

According to a report in Times of India, Kohli had informed the Indian cricket board (BCCI) in advance that he would take a break in early January. Since the ODI series coincides with the first birthday of his daughter, Kohli had communicated that he could not participate in the one day series.

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The discord between Kohli and the BCCI mandarins came out in the open when he was asked the next question.
But you had only stated that you wanted to remain captain till 2023 ODI World Cup?

“Was it a question?” Kohli smiled.

“Yes, it is a question because you had only said you wanted to remain India’s ODI captain?,” the reporter again asked.

“When I left the T20 captaincy, I had first approached BCCI and intimated them of my decision and laid down my point of view in front of them (office bearers).

“I gave the reasons why I wanted to quit T20 captaincy and my view point was received very nicely. There was no offence, no hesitation and not for once was I told that ‘you should not leave T20 captaincy’,” Kohli said, in complete contradiction to what Ganguly had stated a few days earlier.

Kohli said the BCCI brass called his decision a progressive one.

“On the contrary, the BCCI called it a progressive step and in the right direction. At that time I had communicated that, yes I would like to continue in Tests and ODIs unless office-bearers and selectors think that I shouldn’t carry on with this responsibility.

“I had clarified on my call and communication to BCCI was clear. I had given that option if office bearers and selectors think otherwise, then it’s in their hands (their call).”

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At the pre-departure press meet before the South Africa tour, the Indian skipper took all the tough questions head on and said that he would put his full support behind new white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid’s “vision”. He said he understands that not winning an ICC white ball trophy led to his removal.

Over the last two days, speculation has been rife that not all is well between Kohli and Test vice-captain Rohit, who will not play the Tests due to a hamstring injury.

After Rohit was ruled out, reports emerged that Kohli will take a break from the ODI series in the Rainbow Nation to spend some time with his young family.

This was after Rohit was handed the reins of ODI and T20I teams last week in a terse BCCI press release while announcing the Test squad for the series.

Shortly before the T20 World Cup got underway in the UAE, Kohli had announced his decision to step down as India’s T20I captain after the tournament.

Responding to the endless chatter, Kohli said, “A lot of things that happen on the outside are not ideal and not always how one expects them to be. But you have to understand there’s only so much that you can do as an individual and we have to do the things that you can as an individual, in my control show. I’m very focused and very mentally prepared.”