Rohit Sharma will also continue being the T20 skipper after being appointed as captain of the T20 team last month, ahead of the home series against New Zealand.
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BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Thursday revealed that Virat Kohli was requested “not to step down” as T20 captain for Team India. However, once Kohli refused to continue as skipper for the shortest format, the selectors decided to hand the ODI reins to Rohit Sharma. Selectors felt that they cannot have two white ball captains in the limited-overs formats, according to Ganguly. The former Indian skipper’s comments came after the BCCI announced Rohit as the captain of the ODI and T20 sides. Besides, the Mumbai Indians skipper was appointed as vice-captain in Tests, thereby replacing senior batsman Ajinkya Rahane.
Ganguly also informed that Kohli was spoken to on the same and duly accepted the decision. “We had requested Virat not to step down as T20 captain but he didn’t want to continue as captain. So, the selectors felt that they cannot have two white ball captains in two white-ball formats. That’s too much of leadership,” former Indian captain Ganguly told PTI.
The former left-handed batsman further revealed that the selectors were not okay with the idea of having multiple leaders in the white-ball format, thereby the Chetan Sharma-led committee suggested that it’s better to have one leader. “I don’t know (about confusion) but that’s what they (selectors) felt. That’s how this conclusion was arrived at – that let Rohit captain in white-ball and let Virat be the red-ball skipper,” Ganguly added.
A leader who led the side with grit, passion & determination. ???
Thank you Captain @imVkohli!??#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/gz7r6KCuWF
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2021
Asked how does he see Rohit performing as the ODI skipper, Ganguly said, “It’s very difficult to predict. I wish him all the best and hope he does a good job,” he said.
However, Ganguly informed that it was taken into consideration that Kohli has a great record in ODIs as a skipper. The Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman has over 70 per cent win record in 95 games that he was in charge.
“Yes, we did consider that but if you look at Rohit’s record in whatever ODIs he has captained for India, it’s very good. Bottom line, there can’t be two white ball captains,” he asserted.
When asked about India not winning any ICC Trophy during Kohli’s tenure as the skipper, Ganguly refused to divulge the details of the discussion. “I can’t explain more about what all was discussed and what selectors have said, but this is primary reason for having Rohit as white-ball captain and Virat accepted it,” he revealed.
“Yes, I have spoken to Virat personally and chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma has also spoke to him on the issue,” he signed off.
Virat Kohli had stepped down from India’s T20 captaincy role at the end of the recently-concluded T20 World Cup. Kohli took over as India’s full-time captain in 2017 when the legendary wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni decided to step down.
He will go down as the Men in Blue’s most successful ODI captain with a win percentage of 70.43. Virat led India in 95 games – winning 65 and losing 27.
On the other hand, Rohit has led the Men in Blue in 10 ODIs, out of which the team won eight. Last month, Rohit captained the team in the T20 series against New Zealand, in which the hosts won 3-0.
