Virat Kohli should have continued slightly for longer as India's Test captain: Sanjay Bangar

Though Virat Kohli is a proven batting master in world cricket, his captaincy stint with the Indian team has always been a widely discussed topic. The Indian batter took Indian Test cricket to a different level altogether, winning a series in Australia and the famous Lord’s Test win in 2021 against England. But the team’s performance under him in the ICC knockouts was less than appreciable.

Former India batting coach, Sanjay Bangar has opined that the 35-year-old could have extended his captaincy in Tests. For the unversed, Kohli was stripped of his skipper role controversially in 2022 as he opted out of T20I captaincy in September 2021. Moreover, he had publicly claimed that there was no proper communication from the management over the change in leadership decision.

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“I personally feel that he (Kohli) should have continued slightly for longer as a Test captain. He probably captained India in 65 (sic. 68) Test matches, and one of the things I feel is that he could have probably continued as a Test captain for a longer period,” Sanjay Bangar said appearing on The Rao Podcast.

Communication about the decision that was made was inaccurate: Kohli

The former India captain has been the most successful Test skipper for India. He led the team in 68 Tests and won 40 of them and has a winning percentage of 58.82. He was the linchpin behind India’s first Test win against Australia, which they clinched in the 2018 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The right-handed batter was adamant about creating a lethal bowling attack which could utilise the overseas conditions to the fullest. Under him, the team also reached the World Test Championship finals in 2021. 

Sourav Ganguly, who held the President role in 2022, quipped that the Board had requested Kohli to continue as the T20I captain. He further added that the batter did not budge to the request and selectors were not ready to have two different captains for white-ball cricket. However, the Delhi batter refuted the claims and revealed his side of the story.

“Whatever was said about the communication that happened about the decision that was made was inaccurate. When I decided to leave T20 captaincy, I approached BCCI first. I told them my reasons and point of view. I was not told I shouldn't step down as T20 captain. It was received very nicely. There was no offence or hesitation. It was deemed as a progressive step in the right direction,” Kohli had said previously.

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“At that time, I also communicated that I would want to continue as captain in both ODIs and Tests unless the office bearers and selectors felt that I should not take that responsibility. I cleared it on call. I had given them the option and left the decision on them,” he had added.