'People Trying To Dig Up Things...': Virat Kohli Slams Controversy Seekers Over T20 Captaincy Row

Ind vs Pak, T20 WC: Virat Kohli refused to provide 'masala' to controversy seekers and said "he's not ready to add fuel to fire."

New Delhi: Eyebrows were raised when run-machine Virat Kohli had decided to step down as the Indian cricket team's T20 skipper after the T20 World Cup in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ahead of India's high-voltage match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Virat Kohli, during the pre-match press conference, was asked the reason behind his sudden decision to quit T20 captaincy. In reply, Virat refused to provide 'masala' to controversy seekers and said "he's not ready to add fuel to fire."

"I have already explained myself a lot and I don't think I need to harp on that anymore," Virat Kohli said.

"Our focus is to play well in this World Cup and do what we need to do as a team.

"Rest people are trying to dig up things that doesn't exist and I am not someone who is ever going to give fodder to that," Kohli, who was a visibly irritated at the question, said.

"I have explained myself very honestly and openly and if people feel there's more to it than what I have already told, I feel pretty bad for them. That's certainly not the case."

During an exclusive conversation with Aaj Tak, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had revealed that there was no pressure on Kohli to step down as India's T20 captain.

"I was surprised (that Virat Kohli decided to step down as T20 captain). This decision must have been taken only after the England tour and it is his decision. There was no pressure from our end. We didn't tell him anything," Ganguly said.

"We don't do things like that because I myself have been a player so I understand. It is very difficult to be a captain in all formats for this long.

"I was a captain for six years, it looks good from the outside, there is respect and all that. But you get burnt out on the inside and it happens to any captain. Not just to Tendulkar or Ganguly or Dhoni or Kohli but to the captain that will come up next as well. It is a tough job."