Reports: Ravi Shastri had advised Virat Kohli to relinquish Team India’s ODI and T20I captaincy

If reports are to be believed, Team India head coach Ravi Shastri had advised Virat Kohli to give up captaincy in both ODIs and T20Is. It’s been learned that the coach wanted the 32-year-old Virat to focus more on his batting. Earlier this month, Kohli announced that he would be stepping down as Team India’s skipper in T20Is after the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup in the UAE.

Kohli has been working as India’s full-time limited-overs skipper since January 2017 after MS Dhoni passed the baton to him. In 2016, Virat propelled the Men in Blue to the semi-final of the World T20 where India lost to the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Back in December-January, India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia 2-1 after going 0-1 down in the series. Kohli also left Australia due to ‘personal reasons’ after the Adelaide Test. However, under Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership, India made a comeback.

As per reports, talks surrounding Kohli’s captaincy started doing the rounds after India won without him in the playing eleven.

Shastri had spoken to Virat Kohli around six months ago, says BCCI official

Going by reports in India Ahead, Shastri had a conversation with Kohli earlier this year regarding the latter’s captaincy. However, despite Shastri’s advice, Virat has continued leading India in ODIs.

“The talk about Kohli`s captaincy started after India won the Australian series without their regular captain. It also indicates that Kohli may have to let go the ODI captaincy at some point before 2023 if things don`t go as planned.”

“Shastri had spoken to Kohli around six months ago. But Kohli didn’t listen to Shastri. He is still keen to lead India in ODIs and that is why he only decided to let go the T20 captaincy. Even the board was discussing it as to how Kohli could be utilised more as a batsman. That is because he has a lot left as a player even now,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying.

Virat’s prowess with the bat has also come under the scanner after he has failed to score a century over the last two years. In the meantime, the Delhi-born Virat has also announced his decision to step down as Royal Challengers Bangalore’s skipper after the 2021 Indian Premier League.