“Not the first time it has happened” - Cricket fraternity reacts to Virat Kohli’s press conference revelations

Virat Kohli’s press conference on Wednesday, ahead of Team India’s tour of South Africa, hinted at a massive divide in Indian cricket.

The most stunning claim Kohli made was that he was not asked by anyone at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to stay on as T20I captain after announcing his resignation. However, according to Kohli, his decision was well-received and was seen as progressive.

The Indian Test captain’s statement was in complete contradiction to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly’s comment that he had personally requested Kohli not to step down as T20I captain.

During the press conference, Kohli also revealed that there had been no prior communication from the BCCI with regards to his removal as ODI captain. According to the star batter, he was told an hour-and-a-half before the selection meeting for the Test team on December 8 that the five selectors had decided to replace him as ODI captain.

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Who said what about Virat Kohli’s press conference

Many former cricketers and experts have been shocked and stunned by Kohli's revelations to the media. Here are some prominent reactions.

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“He should be asked why there is this discrepancy” - Gavaskar wants Ganguly to clear the air

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly. Pic: Getty Images

According to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, Kohli’s comments on the T20I captaincy clearly point to a discrepancy between his and Ganguly’s statements. The Indian legend urged Ganguly to clear the air. Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar opined:

"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.”

Gavaskar, however, did not have an issue with the selectors telling Kohli an hour-and-a-half before the team selection meeting for the South Africa Tests that he would not be ODI captain. According to him, that is "absolutely okay".

The 72-year-old elaborated:

"As long as it’s not something that he has not found out from the media or as it happened in the past that the commander of a passenger flight announced it, I think he has been told by the chairman of the selection committee that he is not going to be the captain, I think that is absolutely okay."

Kohli fans took to social media to vent their anger at the BCCI and Ganguly following his statement on his removal as ODI captain.

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“A player should know where he is lacking” - Amit Mishra

Virat Kohli takes a knee during the T20 World Cup. Pic: Getty Images

Veteran Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra batted for better transparency between cricketers and management in the wake of the Kohli-BCCI fiasco. R

eacting to Kohli’s comment of having no prior intimation of the decision to remove him as ODI captain, Mishra said that a player has a right to know why he is being sacked.

Speaking to ANI, Mishra commented:

"This is not the first time it has happened. It happened before also and I feel that a player who has performed so much for the country and worked so hard, should have a right to know why he has been removed from the team or from a particular position. A player should know where he is lacking and should improve on that aspect."

The decision to replace Kohli as ODI captain was made official on December 8, the same day the squad for the South Africa Tests was picked.

“The question is why this is happening” - Aakash Chopra

Virat Kohli during the T20 World Cup, his final assignment as limited-overs captain. Pic: Getty Images

Former India Test opener Aakash Chopra commented that the Kohli-Ganguly fiasco is not about a battle between right and wrong, but about why it is happening at all.

Lamenting that the controversy could prove detrimental to Indian cricket, Chopra stated on his YouTube channel:

"The question is not who is telling the truth and who is lying, who is right and who is wrong. The question is why this is happening because it is not about you and me, it's not about him or the other guy, the fact is that the loser is actually Indian cricket."

On Kohli denying that he asked for leave during the ODI series, Chopra added:

"I was slightly surprised. I was reading a line that truth can be stranger than fiction, that's exactly how it has happened. Virat Kohli said he never asked for leave, the news had come that he had asked for leave even before Rohit Sharma was named the captain. I mean this is a communication breakdown. Who is doing this and why is somebody doing this?"

Reacting to rumors that he wanted to skip the South Africa ODIs, Kohli responded that he always was and is available for the one-dayers.

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“Statements given by Virat were a bit shocking” - Sarandeep Singh

Virat Kohli (left) and Sourav Ganguly. Pics: Getty Images

Former selector Sarandeep Singh expressed shock at Kohli’s revelations during the press conference. Agreeing that it is the duty of the selection committee to select the players and appoint the captain, Singh told ANI:

"The statements given by Virat in the press conference today were a bit shocking. Things shouldn't have gone wrong the way they did. Personally, I feel that there should not be two captains in white-ball cricket. The things could have been handled in a more professional manner and Virat should have been informed earlier. All I want is that everything should be sorted because this can cause harm to Indian cricket.”

Kohli reiterated during the press conference that he was keen to continue as ODI captain despite stepping down as T20 skipper. The BCCI and selectors, however, felt otherwise.

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“This is unrest” - Salman Butt on Kohli contradicting Ganguly

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt said Kohli openly contradicting Ganguly’s T20 captaincy claims was a clear case of unrest. Butt urged the BCCI president to respond and clarify the facts for the sake of Indian cricket.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Butt said:

“Ganguly needs to answer this for the betterment of Indian cricket. He is the President of the BCCI and Kohli contradicting him in public is not a small thing. On one hand, Ganguly said he had requested Kohli not to step down from T20 captaincy. But Kohli has now come out and claimed that no one from BCCI ever spoke to him about it. These are two completely contrasting statements. This is unrest.”

Butt opined that the decision to replace Kohli as ODI captain with Rohit Sharma was the right one, but the process that followed to do so was not.

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“This is definitely shocking” - Virat Kohli's coach on cricketer’s removal as ODI captain

Kohli's coach Rajkumar Sharma has expressed shock at his ward's unceremonious sacking as Team India's ODI skipper. Reacting to Kohli’s statement that Chetan Sharma told Kohli of his removal just an hour-and-a-half before the selection meeting on December 8, Sharma told India News:

"This is definitely shocking and this is news to me as well that Virat Kohli said something like this in the press conference. What comment should I give, about why it has happened and why such a thing should not have happened."

On Kohli contradicting Ganguly’s claims that the former was requested not to give up T20 leadership, Sharma commented:

"This is something unusual I have heard, I didn't see Virat's press conference as well. This communication gap should not have happened. According to me, there should be transparency between them and I don't know why this has happened or why such a communication gap was there."

The Kohli-led Test squad departed for South Africa on Thursday morning. The team will begin their tour with the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion.