Rift between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? BCCI chief selector's 5 big statements
BCCI chief selector Chetan Sharma clears the air on Virat Kohli vs board infight among other things.
The day Virat Kohli was removed as ODI captain, a new controversy erupted between him and BCCI. There were many rumours that floated around Virat and Rohit Sharma, Virat and BCCI selectors/president. Chief selector Chetan Sharma clarified on some decisions and put out his point of view on all these controveries.
On whether Kohli was told to stay back as captain
BCCI chief selector Chetan Sharma said: "It was told to him by everybody available in the meeting. All convenors were there, board officials were there. Everybody said that. Who will not say that when you hear such a news? You will be in shock. What will be your instant reaction? It was a matter of the World Cup. We thought let's talk after the World Cup. We told Virat the World Cup is upon us, and everybody requested let's talk after the World Cup."
"But he has his plans. We have to respect his decision. If someone has taken a decision, and he said in the media also, that he was thinking [along these lines] from the time of WTC, but at that time everybody told him to think about it."
(Source: Twitter)
On rift between Rohit and Virat
Chetan Sharma denied there is a rift between Virat and Rohit. He said, "Sometimes I read reports about them (their rift) and laugh. I'm telling you there is such good planning between them about the future. Things are fantastic. If you were in my place, you would have enjoyed watching how these guys are working together aa a team and family and a unit. It's really saddening when people make up things like that. So please, leave controversies behind in 2021. Let's talk about how to make them the best team." (Source: Twitter)
On selectors' communication gap with players
"Selectors have (always) communicated brilliantly with the board. There is no communication problem with the team management, with the captain, even with the domestic players. All five of us speak to all the domestic players because that is our job, that is our duty. We told Virat then to give everyone time. And we informed before the meeting. You can tell him only when the selectors have met and agreed. One of our selectors was in South Africa (with the 'A' team) so we had to get everyone together to meet," said former India pacer. (Source: Twitter)
On why Rohit was announced as ODI captain even before one-day squad for SA was announced
Backing the decision to announce Rohit Sharma as ODI captain while announcing the Test squad for SA series, Chetan said, "We wanted to announce it then because we don't want to disturb them in the middle of the Test series in South Africa. We gave time to Virat and Rohit Sharma to process it and get it into their systems."
(Source: Twitter)
Why Virat was not told he won't be ODI captain immediately after he left T20I captaincy
"If Virat told you about the T20 decision, would you be able to tell at that time that we want one or two captains....That wasn't the right time to do it, we were in the middle of a World Cup. The World Cup was upon us. We were only thinking that the decision should not affect us in the World Cup. We have to cool things down. At that time, we don't have the time to think about split captaincy, we had only requested that this can be discussed later. Everybody in the board said that," said Chetan. (Source: Twitter)
