Virat Kohli vs Ganguly – Sunil Gavaskar Questions Ganguly: Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar is furious with the way BCCI handled the Virat Kohli saga. While BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said he requested Kohli not to step down from the T20I captaincy, the Test captain dismissed that. Gavaskar has asked Ganguly to clarify after a classic his words vs his words debate. Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport.IN
“I think it (Kohli’s comments) actually doesn’t bring the BCCI into the picture. I think it’s the individual who has to be asked where he got the impression he had conveyed such a message to Kohli. So that’s the only thing. Yes, he is the BCCI president and surely he should be asked why there is this discrepancy. He is probably the best person to ask about the discrepancy in what you seem to have to say and what the Indian captain has said,” Sunil Gavaskar told India Today.
India Tour of South Africa: Sunil Gavaskar questions Sourav Ganguly, says ‘He should be asked about discrepancy after Virat Kohli comments’
During India’s pre-departure press conference, Virat Kohli said there was no message from the selectors or BCCI office-bearers. It was only 90 minutes before the selection committee meeting for the Test squad for South Africa, that he was informed.
“I was contacted one-and-a-half hours before the selection meeting on December 8 for the Test series. There was no prior communication to me at all since I announced the T20I captaincy decision until the 8th of December. I was never told not to give up T20I captaincy. And before ending the call, I was told the five selectors have decided I will not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, ‘okay, fine’,” Virat Kohli said.
India Tour of South Africa: Sunil Gavaskar questions Sourav Ganguly, says ‘He should be asked about discrepancy after Virat Kohli comments’
#EJSports | #ViratKohli‘s fiery press conference in Mumbai. Says he wasn’t contacted in time before ODI captaincy snub & speaks at length about his ‘alleged fight’ with #RohitSharma @imVkohli @ImRo45 @BCCI pic.twitter.com/ZhsjSf9uSz
— editorji (@editorji) December 15, 2021
Furthermore, it was clear that the BCCI had a lack of communication even with their captain. While BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal said Kohli asked for a break in January, the Test captain refused.
“I was and am available for selection (for the ODIs). I was contacted by selectors 1.5 hours before the meeting, we discussed the Test selection, then chief selectors told me I won’t be the ODI captain and I was fine with it. There was no prior communication,” Virat Kohli said.
While Kohli emphasised the lack of communication, it is not new. Over the years, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly himself besides Karun Nair and Amit Mishra all complained about the communication gap.
India Tour of South Africa: Sunil Gavaskar questions Sourav Ganguly, says ‘He should be asked about discrepancy after Virat Kohli comments’
“Yes, it always helps to have a clear line of communication so that there is no speculation. So from now, from what has happened, there should be a clear line of communication and the chairman of the selection committee can come down and say why he has been picked and why he has not been picked. Sometimes, even if that is not needed, a press release is also good enough. A good press release giving all the reasons makes life a lot easier,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
“I don’t know what these people wanted to do. As long as there has been communication between the chairman of selection and him, it’s the decent thing to do. Over there, what the conversation was, I am not aware. Maybe the chairman of the selection committee also said ‘thank you so much,” Gavaskar added.
India Tour of South Africa: Sunil Gavaskar questions Sourav Ganguly, says ‘He should be asked about discrepancy after Virat Kohli comments’
