Sourav Ganguly Reveals BCCI’s Surprise at Virat Kohli’s Decision to Step Down as India’s Test Captain

In a surprising turn of events, former India captain and current BCCI President, Sourav Ganguly, recently disclosed that the Indian cricket board was unprepared for Virat Kohli’s decision to relinquish his role as Test captain. Ganguly’s remarks came amidst growing calls from fans to reinstate Kohli as the Test captain following India’s defeat to Australia in the World Test Championship final.

Fans compare Rohit with Kohli

Fans took to social media platforms to share statistics highlighting Kohli’s impressive record as captain, further fueling the debate over his potential reinstatement. Virat Kohli, who stepped down as Test captain after the South Africa tour, concluded his tenure as the fourth-most successful captain in Test history. He registered 40 victories and 11 draws in 68 matches, placing him third among all 28 Test captains who have led a team in 40 or more matches in terms of win percentage (50%).

“BCCI were not prepared for Virat Kohli leaving the Test captaincy. It was unexpected for us also after the South Africa tour,” revealed Ganguly in an exclusive interview with Aaj Tak. Ganguly emphasised that only Kohli himself could provide insights into his decision to step down and that dwelling on the matter at present would serve no purpose. When the selectors needed to appoint a new captain, Rohit Sharma emerged as the best choice.

Tension between Kohli and BCCI

The dynamics between Kohli and the BCCI have been a subject of speculation throughout 2021. The board’s decision to replace Kohli as India’s ODI captain, despite his expressed intention to continue in the role while resigning from the T20I captaincy, sparked controversy and raised questions about his relationship with the BCCI and Ganguly. Kohli resigned as T20I captain ahead of the T20 World Cup in October, and subsequently, he was removed as ODI captain before the South Africa tour in December.

These series of events led to a direct confrontation between Kohli and BCCI chairman Sourav Ganguly, with conflicting narratives emerging about the T20I decision and the manner in which Kohli was informed of his dismissal as ODI captain during a routine call with the selectors.

In an unexpected twist, Kohli stepped down as Test captain on January 16, 2022, shortly after India’s series loss to South Africa. This decision marked the culmination of a prolonged battle between Kohli and the Indian cricket board regarding the timing, manner, and narrative of his T20I and ODI captaincy stints between October and December of the previous year.

The revelations made by Ganguly shed some light on the behind-the-scenes discussions and unexpected turns in Kohli’s captaincy journey. While fans continue to debate the prospect of his return as Test captain, the focus remains on the upcoming cricketing engagements and the future of Indian cricket leadership.

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