India Tour of South Africa: Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli rift is real – Is Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli not seeing eye to eye? Kohli decided to join the team’s quarantine a day after Rohit pulled out of the Test series due to injury and opted out of ODI series. It sent a strong signal that the rift between the two captains is real. BCCI has also not taken it lightly and wants to sit with both captains after the South Africa series. Follow India vs South Africa on InsideSport.IN.
Virat Kohli was supposed to join the team’s quarantine on Monday but informed the BCCI that he would be joining a day later after Rohit Sharma pulled out of the Test series with injury. Kohli on the same day informed that he is opting out of the ODI series as he wants to spend some time with his family due to his daughter’s first birthday.
“Virat has obviously not taken it lightly (removing him from ODI captaincy). He has opted out for family reasons but nobody is naive. What’s happening is completely unacceptable,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport on Tuesday.
India Tour of South Africa: BCCI official to InsideSport, whatever is happening not right, we will sit with both captains after SA series’
While BCCI and both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have categorically denied any rift between them, it has now come out in the open. After selectors and BCCI removed Virat Kohli from ODI captaincy and handed it over to Rohit Sharma besides further elevating the Mumbaikar to Test vice-captaincy, it has sent a strong signal of a shake-up.
InsideSport can confirm that the rift between the two captains is real and BCCI isn’t happy about Kohli’s pullout from the ODI series. The Indian board doesn’t believe that Virat Kohli pulled out due to personal reasons and has decided to sit with both captains after the South Africa tour.
“After the South Africa tour, we will sit with both captains and figure out the way forward. Removing him from ODI captaincy was for the team’s own good and Virat should not have reacted selfishly. He has contributed so much for the team and has always put the team first. It is very unfortunate what is happening,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport on Tuesday.
India Tour of South Africa: BCCI official to InsideSport, whatever is happening not right, we will sit with both captains after SA series’
India Tour of South Africa: How Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma saga transpired?
- Virat decided to step down from T20I captaincy after T20 World Cup and wanted to retain ODI and Test captaincy.
- But BCCI and the selectors were of the belief that there should not be a split in white-ball captaincy.
- Before the squad selection for the South Africa series, BCCI gave Kohli 48 hours to step down from ODI captaincy voluntarily. When Kohli didn’t return calls, selectors removed him.
- BCCI sent a 131-character statement saying Rohit Sharma will be the next ODI captain.
- Kohli kept his phone switched off and didn’t return calls.
- Reduced to Test captain, he informed BCCI that he would be entering team’s quarantine a day after the scheduled date.
- It was then revealed that Rohit Sharma was ruled out with injury.
- Virat Kohli informed BCCI that he will not be available for ODI series due to his daughter’s birthday.
- BCCI in the belief that Kohli used it as an excuse to avoid Rohit Sharma, decided to sit with both captains after the SA series.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) December 13, 2021
“It is important that the team doesn’t suffer because of this. Virat and Rohit are two of the best players in the team and will be important in all three formats. They have to get along well and they will,” the official added.
India Tour of South Africa: BCCI official to InsideSport, whatever is happening not right, we will sit with both captains after SA series’
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