Sourav Ganguly backs Rohit Sharma: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has backed India’s new white-ball captain Rohit Sharma and said that he was given the role only because selectors had a lot of confident in him. The former India captain also highlighted Rohit Sharma’s phenomenal record as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL, also adding that the opener won India the Asia Cup 2018 in the absence of Virat Kohli. Follow more such sports news on InsideSports.IN.
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Sourav Ganguly backs new white-ball captain Rohit Sharma, says he won Asia Cup without Virat Kohli
“Of course. That’s why the selectors have backed him (on whether he is hopeful of Rohit leading the squad successfully). He will find a way to do well and I hope he does,” Ganguly told News18.
Sourav Ganguly backs new white-ball captain Rohit Sharma, says he won Asia Cup without Virat Kohli
“His record for IPL (Mumbai Indians) is phenomenal… winning five titles. He captained India in Asia Cup a couple of years ago which India won as well, and India won without Kohli. To win a title without him spoke volumes of that team’s strength. So he has had success in big tournaments. He has a good team. So hopefully they can all turn it around,” the BCCI President said.
Virat Kohli was sacked as India’s ODI captain on Wednesday as Rohit Sharma – who took over the T20I captaincy after Kohli opted to step down – was made the incharge of the 50-over squad as well.
InsideSport has learnt that Virat Kohli was given a 48-hour ultimatum to step down from the ODI captaincy, however he opted against it, following which BCCI took the major call.
Earlier, Ganguly had said that he personally called Kohli to inform him about the decision of the selectors. The 49-year-old also revealed that Kohli was suggested not to leave the T20I captaincy.
“It’s a call that the BCCI and the selectors took together. Actually, the BCCI had requested Virat to not step down as the T20I skipper, but obviously, he did not agree. And the selectors then did not feel it right to have two different captains for two white-ball formats.
“So it was decided that Virat will continue as Test captain and Rohit will take over as the white-ball captain. I as President personally spoke to Virat Kohli and the chairman of selectors has also spoken to him,” Sourav Ganguly had told ANI.
Virat Kohli captained India in 95 ODI matches, winning 65 of them. Rohit Sharma has captained India in ten 50-over matches till date, winning on 8 occasions.
Sourav Ganguly backs new white-ball captain Rohit Sharma, says he won Asia Cup without Virat Kohli