No Discussion With BCCI Over ODI Captaincy, Was Told 1.5 Hours Before Being Replaced: Virat Kohli

Kohli also said that there was no communication between him and the board after he announced the decision to step down from T20I captaincy, denying a claim made by BCCI President Sourav Ganguly.

Image: AFP

India's Test cricket captain Virat Kohli has cleared the air about an alleged rift between him and Rohit Sharma, the newly appointed ODI captain. Kohli also dismissed the reports about communication that happened between him and BCCI and said that he was contacted one and half hours before the selection meeting.

"Whatever was said about the communication that happened during the decision that was made was inaccurate. I was contacted one and half hours before the selection meeting on 8th for the Test series," said Kohli 

Kohli also said that there was no communication between him and the board after he announced the decision to step down from T20I captaincy, denying a claim made by BCCI President Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly had said "I personally requested him (Kohli) not to give up the T20I captaincy," to News 18. 

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 progressive step. I told them I will continue as ODI captain & Test captain: Virat Kohli on T20 captaincy (1/2) pic.twitter.com/JabzbPNiaE

— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021

Kohli responded by saying, "there was no prior communication with me since I announced the T20I captaincy decision up till December 8. The chief selector discussed the Test team to which we both agreed Before ending the call, I was told the five selectors decided that I would not be told that I will not be ODI captain. Which I replied 'okay fine'."

"And in the selection call afterwards we chatted about it briefly this is what happened, there was no communication prior to that at all," he added.

The Indian Test captain was addressing a virtual press conference in Mumbai before team India leaves for the South Africa tour.

There were reports about Virat Kohli requesting to miss the ODI series after an alleged rift between him and India's newly appointed ODI captain, Rohit Sharma. He dismissed these reports by confirming his presence for the South Africa ODI series.