‘That’s too much of leadership’: Sourav Ganguly highlights the ‘bottom line’ behind Rohit Sharma replacing Virat Kohli as ODI captain
Follow Us
Rohit Sharma, Virat kohli and Sourav Ganguly
In a surprising turn of events, Rohit Sharma has been named the captain of the ODI team. Rohit replaced Virat Kohli as the full-time T20 captain earlier and has now gone on to become India’s white-ball captain. The change in captaincy comes as a surprise ahead of the 2023 World Cup which will be held in India.
The fact that the BCCI announced the news of Rohit’s ascension to the post of the ODI skipper without giving any reason behind Kohli’s departure sent ripples through the cricketing fraternity. BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has come forward to clear the air around the decision. He asserts that there cant be two white ball captains according to the selectors.
“We had requested Virat not to step down as T20 captain but he didn’t want to continue as captain,” Ganguly told PTI. “So, the selectors felt that they cannot have two white-ball captains in two white-ball formats. That’s too much of leadership.”
Sourav Ganguly highlights “primary reason for having Rohit as white-ball captain”
While Rohit Sharma’s captaincy record in the shortest format is impeccable, he is not very experienced when it comes to 50 overs cricket. Sourav Ganguly reiterates that the decision was about differentiating the leadership in different formats and Kohli understands it.
“Yes, we did consider that but if you look at Rohit’s record in whatever ODIs he has captained for India [eight wins in ten games], it’s very good,” Ganguly said. “Bottom line – there can’t be two white-ball captains. I can’t explain more about what all was discussed and what selectors have said, but this is the primary reason for having Rohit as white-ball captain, and Virat accepted it.“
Virat Kohli is ranked third in the world when it comes to winning percentage as a captain when leading in 50 or more games and hence the fans are disturbed with the decision. When quizzed if it was to avoid any confusion when it comes to leadership group in the showers formats, Sourav Ganguly shares that selectors feared that such a situation might arise and hence took the move.
“I don’t know [about confusion], but that’s what they [the selectors] felt,” Ganguly said. “That’s how this conclusion was arrived at – that let Rohit captain in white-ball [cricket] and let Virat be the red-ball skipper.“
Ganguly added that he and the chief selector have spoken with the outgoing captain, assuring that there is no communication gap between the management group. “Yes, I have spoken to Virat personally and chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma has also spoken to him on the issue.“
Also Read | Rohit Sharma’s 11-year-old tweet resurfaces as he assumes the reigns of ODI team
Stay Updated!
Anshuman Mahapatra
(1496 Articles Published)