Virat Kohli has admitted that there was no prior communication with him over being replaced as ODI captain. He disclosed that during the call to discuss the Test squad for South Africa, who told him of the decision by BCCI selectors, and he was “fine” with it.
On December 8 was BCCI announced the South Africa Test series team. Releasing an official announcement while naming the team, the cricket board informed:
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward.”
In a press conference ahead of India’s tour of South Africa, Kohli cleared the air on the argument surrounding the captaincy change. He said:
“Whatever was said about the communication that happened during the (captaincy) decision that was made was inaccurate. I was contacted one and a half hours before the selection meeting on the 8th for the Test series. There was no prior communication with me at all since I announced the T20 captaincy decision, up until December 8.”
Kohli added:
“The chief selector discussed with me the Test team, to which we both agreed. Before ending the call, I was told that the five selectors had decided I would not be ODI captain, and I replied – ‘okay, fine. There was no communication before that at all.”
Before some time, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly claimed that he had personally asked Kohli not to step down from the T20 captaincy. He further disclosed that the selectors took the final call on the captaincy.
“The communication with BCCI from my side was clear” – Virat Kohli
Kohli admitted that he was keen to continue as ODI and Test caption after giving up the T20I captaincy. But he further said that he was okay if the BCCI office-bearers and selectors considered not to lead the team. Kohli said:
“When I told BCCI that I wanted to give up T20I captaincy, it was accepted really well. There was no hesitation over that, which was seen as a progressive step. At that time, I communicated that I would like to continue leading in ODIs and Tests, and I had clarified the same on a call back then. The communication with BCCI from my side was clear. I also told them that if the office bearers and selectors felt I should not be the captain, then they could decide the same.”