India's Test skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday claimed that he had never asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for rest in the ODI series against South Africa. He made these remarks while addressing the pre-departure virtual press conference in which he also clarified that there was no rift between him and new ODI captain Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli also said that he is available for the ODIs and that he has been very honest with his responsibilities. The press conference came ahead of the three-Test series against South Africa which is scheduled to start on December 26. Rohit Sharma will miss the Test series against South Africa due to a hamstring injury.
Virat Kohli opens up on ODI captaincy | Key Points
1. Virat Kohli said that he had never asked BCCI for rest and that he was available for selection in ODIs against South Africa.
2. The former Test skipper also said that he is tired of clarifying that there is no problem between him and Rohit Sharma. He also said he will miss Rohit Sharma's abilities a lot during the Test series against South Africa.
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3. Clarifying further, Kohli said that he was contacted 1.5 hours before selection of the Test team where the Chief selector has discussed the Test with him and later he was told by 5 selectors that he will not be ODI captain.
4. "I am available for selection and was available for selection. As far as I am concerned, I am always available for selection. I am available for ODIs and I was always keen to play, " Kohli told news agency ANI
5. "My communication with BCCI hasn't happened & I wanted to rest. I was contacted 1.5 hours before the meeting. There was no communication. The chief selector discussed the Test team. The 5 selectors told me I will not be ODI captain. Which is fine," he added.
6. Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin's latest tweet also gave rise to several speculations amid the audience as the tweet said that Virat will bot be available for the ODI series & Rohit is unavailable for the upcoming Test series. "Virat Kohli has informed that he's not available for the ODI series & Rohit Sharma is unavailable fr d upcoming test. There is no harm in taking a break but d timing has to be better. This just substantiates speculation abt d rift. Neither will be giving up d another form of cricket," Azharuddin wrote in his tweet.
7. Kohli's remarks on Wednesday quashes all rumors which were hinting that the former Test skipper skipped the ODI as he did not wish to play under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli said he was available and also highlighted how he has been clarifying for two years now that there is no animosity between him and Sharma.
8. Virat Kohli's remarks at the press conference also contradicted BCCI president Saurav Ganguly's earlier claims which said that he had requested Virat to not step down as T20I captain.
9. "It's like I said… I personally requested him (Kohli) not to give up the T20I captaincy. Obviously, he felt the workload. Which is fine, he has been a great cricketer, he has been very intense with his cricket. He has been captained for a long period of time and these things happen. Because I have captained for a long period of time; therefore, I know. Also, they wanted only one white-ball captain. And that's why this decision," Ganguly had told News 18.
10. "When I decided to leave the T20I captaincy and approached the BCCI about my decision, it was received well, there was no offence or hesitation. I wasn't told to reconsider it," Kohli said referring to the BCCI president's claims."Then I told them I'd like to continue in Tests and ODIs, unless the office bearers and selectors feel otherwise. My communication was clear in what I wanted to do. I gave them the option, that if they feel I shouldn't (remain captain in Tests and/or ODIs), the decision is in their hands," he added.
