'I wasn't told to not leave the T20I captaincy' - Virat Kohli refutes Sourav Ganguly's claim

Virat Kohli has finally opened up on the ‘captaincy’ issue that has hogged the limelight in Indian cricket. Kohli has now revealed that he was never told by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he should not leave the captaincy of the Indian side in the T20I format of the game.

Earlier, the President of the BCCI, Sourav Ganguly had stated that he had personally requested Kohli not to step down as the captain of the Indian side in T20I cricket.

“Sourav Ganguly – I personally requested Virat Kohli to not step down from T20I captaincy. Virat Kohli – I wasn’t told to not leave the T20I captaincy. – Very poor from the BCCI and the president,” tweeted a Twitter handle by name Mufaddal Vohra.

You can see the tweet below

Sourav Ganguly – I personally requested Virat Kohli to not step down from T20i captaincy.

Virat Kohli – I wasn't told to not leave the T20i captaincy.

– Very poor from the BCCI and the president.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 15, 2021

Virat Kohli was removed as the Indian ODI captain ahead of the series against South Africa

The BCCI removed Virat Kohli as the skipper of the Indian ODI side ahead of India’s tour to South Africa. Rohit Sharma replaced Kohli as the skipper of the Indian side in limited-overs cricket.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward,” tweeted the official handle of the BCCI on 8th December 2021.

You can see the tweet from the BCCI below

The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward.#TeamIndia | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/hcg92sPtCa

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2021

In fact, Kohli has also stated that he was called up just 90 minutes before the selection meeting on 8th December 2021 and the selectors informed him that they were not in favour of split captaincy.

“Virat Kohli in PC on Dec 15: There was no prior communication (from BCCI). I was called up 90 mins before Dec 8 selection meeting. Selectors said they didn’t want split captaincy. I was never told I should not leave T20 captaincy,” tweeted a Twitter handle by name KSR.

You can see the tweet below

Virat Kohli in PC on Dec 15: There was no prior communication (from BCCI). I was called up 90 mins before Dec 8 selection meeting. Selectors said they didn't want split captaincy.

I was never told I should not leave T20 captaincy.

(ends)

— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) December 15, 2021