Kolkata: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly said that there was no plan to show-cause Virat Kohli for his remarks on the captaincy issue before the Indian team’s departure to South Africa. “Not true at all,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
A section of media, however, claimed that the BCCI president was in favour of show-causing Kohli for the latter’s statements that openly contradicted Ganguly’s comments.
“Before quitting T20I captaincy, I had approached the BCCI and explained the reasons behind my decision. That was received very well. There was no offence or hesitation. Muhje yeh nahi kaha giya tha ki aap T20 captaincy na chodie (I was not told not to relinquish T20 captaincy),” Kohli had said.
“Rather it was taken as a progressive step, in the right direction. I communicated that time that I would like to continue as Test and ODI captain unless the office-bearers and the selectors felt that I shouldn’t carry on with this responsibility. My communication (to the BCCI) was clear,” he added.
Kohli had decided to quit T20I captaincy after the T20 World Cup last year. Later chief selector Chetan Sharma corroborated Ganguly’s version. “When the (T20 World Cup selection) meeting started (in September), it was a surprise for everybody. Everybody who was part of that meeting told Virat to reconsider his decision. We felt at the time that it would affect the (team at the) World Cup and it was told to Virat for the sake of Indian cricket, ‘please continue as captain’. It was told to him by everybody. The convener was there. The Board officials were there. But he took the decision and we respected it,” the chief selector had said.
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