India Tour of South Africa: Brad Hogg worried of India dressing room environment: Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg is hoping to see a united Indian dressing room after the recent change in leadership roles. Notably, Rohit Sharma, who took over the T20I captaincy after Virat Kohli opted to step down, was made the skipper of the ODI team as well on Wednesday. Follow more such sports news on Insidesport.IN.
InsideSport has learnt that Virat Kohli was given a 48-hour ultimatum to step down from the captaincy. However, the 33-year-old chose not to step down, following which BCCI took the major call.
“I think it’s a blessing in disguise. I just hope when they go on their next tour, that change room is not separated by this little slight division between these two particular players,” Brad Hogg said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.
India Tour of South Africa: Brad Hogg worried about Indian dressing room after Rohit Sharma replaces Virat Kohli as ODI skipper
Virat Kohli, who will be seen leading the Test team on the South Africa tour, is yet to react to the sacking. The Delhi-born has also not publicly congratulated Rohit Sharma on his new role. If sources are to be believed, the right-hander might opt out of the ODI series in South Africa.
India Tour of South Africa: Brad Hogg worried about Indian dressing room after Rohit Sharma replaces Virat Kohli as ODI skipper
The former chinaman bowler insisted that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should embrace their respective roles and drive Indian cricket forward.
“Both of them have to embrace it, get in that changing room, and take Indian cricket forward,” stated Hogg.
“Indian cricket right now, with the talent they’ve got in batting and bowling should dominate world cricket over the next five years at least,” he added.
Further, the 50-year-old suggested that the time is just right for Virat Kohli to embrace the changes and concentrate on his batting form which has dipped lately.
India Tour of South Africa: Brad Hogg worried about Indian dressing room after Rohit Sharma replaces Virat Kohli as ODI skipper
“I think this is a good move. Kohli should just embrace it and relax about the whole situation and should concentrate on captaining the Test team. So basically, you’ve got Rohit Sharma just concentrating on the team he wants in white-ball cricket and Virat Kohli focusing on Test cricket. It takes a lot of pressure off you.
“I think this is going to be better for Virat Kohli. It is going to improve his performances which have slightly dropped off slightly in the last couple of years when he’s been under pressure while captaining all three teams,” he concluded.
India Tour of South Africa: Brad Hogg worried about Indian dressing room after Rohit Sharma replaces Virat Kohli as ODI skipper