Right before the South Africa tour, India Test captain Virat Kohli raised umpteen questions on BCCI by making some big revelations in a press conference. Among all, the biggest revelation was his statement where he had said that he was never told to rethink his decision to step down from T20 captainship.
And now the fire around the captaincy of India's ODI side refuses to die down, with Chetan Sharma, the chair of men's selection panel, stating that Virat Kohli was asked to reconsider his call to step down as T20I captain.
Asked if the skipper's assertion was true, former pacer Chetan's reply was completely the opposite.
"When meeting started, it was a surprise for everybody. If the World T20 is round the corner and you hear something like this, what will be your reaction? Everyone present in that meeting had told him that he should think hard about his decision (to quit T20 captaincy) and we can talk about it after the World Cup," Chetan answered a query from PTI during a media conference after the ODI team selection.
In fact, everyone told him to continue for the 'sake of Indian cricket', but apparently, he had made up his mind.
"All selectors felt at that time that this can affect us in the World Cup. It was told to Virat for sake of Indian cricket, please continue as the captain and it was told by everybody (BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah) present in the meeting.
"The convenors were there, board officials were there. Sabhi ne bola hai (everyone told him), Who won't tell you? If this news comes to you, you are in a shock," Chetan said.
"But since we had a World T20 to play, we never wanted it (decision) to affect team. He (Kohli) had his plans and we respect him. He is a pillar of the team and if he has taken a decision we respect it. But yes, everybody told him to think about it," he said.
One thing led to other
Chetan categorically said that the selectors had decided to tell Kohli that two white-ball leaders wasn't a feasible option.
"It was Virat's decision and nobody actually told him to quit the captaincy. Once he quit T20 captaincy, obviously the selectors have to think what our decision is and obviously it is one captain for white-ball formats, it becomes easy for selectors to plan things.
"Obviously, the 50 overs decision was selectors' and T20 was his decision," Chetan put it on record.
Chetan had a counter-question ready when asked if the selectors gave Kohli enough hints when he said that he was quitting T20 captaincy.
"Would you be able to tell at that time, at that very moment what your decision will be? That wasn't the right time and we were in the middle of a World Cup. We had to cool down things so that it doesn't affect the World Cup campaign.
"That wasn't time to tell him we will remove him. Everyone present in board said that," he added.
