Virat Kohli vs BCCI: The contradictory statements by BCCI officials, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and India Test captain Virat Kohli refuse to die down. Former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has slammed Ganguly for his contradictory statement and said the entire saga could have been handled professionally. He added that “Ganguly had no business in speaking on behalf of the selectors.” Follow IND vs SA Test Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“It’s very unfortunate, the whole thing. I think it should have been handled more professionally by the BCCI. The thing is that Ganguly had no business to speak on behalf of the selection committee. Ganguly is the president of BCCI. Any issue about selection or captaincy, it’s the chairman of the selection committee who should speak,” Dilip Vengsarkar told Khaleej Times.
Virat Kohli vs BCCI: Dilip Vengsarkar blasts BCCI & Sourav Ganguly on Virat Kohli treatment, says ‘He had no business speaking for selectors’
A leader who led the side with grit, passion & determination. 🇮🇳🔝
Thank you Captain @imVkohli!👏👏#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/gz7r6KCuWF
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2021
Virat Kohli vs BCCI: How it all unfolded?
- Dec 8: BCCI appointed Rohit Sharma as the ODI skipper in a 131-letter statement, buried under the team selection for South Africa Test series. But there was no mention of Virat Kohli.
- December 9: After almost 23 hours, BCCI finally decides to pay tribute to Virat Kohli’s time during captaincy, arguably the best-ever by winning percentage.
- December 9: Sourav Ganguly breaks his silence and told reporters that he requested him personally not to step down from T20I captaincy as the selectors did not want two white-ball skippers.
- December 13: BCCI officials confirmed that Virat Kohli wanted a break and opted out of the ODI series in South Africa. It raised speculations about a rift between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
- December 15: In an explosive press conference, Kohli said that he was never called by anyone not to step down from T20I captaincy. Instead, Chetan Sharma, chairman of the selection committee informed him that he will be removed from ODI captaincy.
- December 17: Two days after Kohli’s press conference, Ganguly refused to comment on the matter, saying BCCI will deal with it internally.
Virat Kohli vs BCCI: Dilip Vengsarkar blasts BCCI & Sourav Ganguly on Virat Kohli treatment, says ‘He had no business speaking for selectors’
After Rohit Sharma was appointed ODI captain, replacing Virat Kohli abruptly, Sourav Ganguly said that he personally requested him not to step down from T20I captaincy. As selectors did not want different captains in white-ball cricket, they decided to remove Kohli from ODI captaincy, elevating Rohit. However, Kohli hit back saying that he was never asked not to step down from T20I captaincy and he was only informed about the decision to remove him from ODI leadership role just 90 minutes before the selection meeting.
“Ganguly spoke about the whole thing, obviously Virat wanted to make his case clear. I believe it should have been between the chairman of the selection committee and the captain. A captain is selected or removed by the selection committee, that’s not Ganguly’s jurisdiction at all,” Dilip Vengsarkar said.
Virat Kohli vs BCCI: Dilip Vengsarkar blasts BCCI & Sourav Ganguly on Virat Kohli treatment, says ‘He had no business speaking for selectors’
The former India captain added that miscommunication between players, BCCI and the selectors has always remained same and hasn’t changed in nearly 100 years. Vengsarkar said that the board should show respect to the captain while removing him.
“It has always been the case right from 1932. Once we saw four captains in five Test matches. But yes, things should change now. Kohli, you have to respect him, he has done so much for the country, so much for Indian cricket. But how they dealt with him, it must have definitely hurt him,” Vengsarkar said.
Virat Kohli vs BCCI: Dilip Vengsarkar blasts BCCI & Sourav Ganguly on Virat Kohli treatment, says ‘He had no business speaking for selectors’
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