Chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma on Friday refuted Virat Kohli, saying the legendary batsman was asked by everyone in the BCCI to serve as the T20 captain. Days after Kohli stepped down from T20I captaincy, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said that the board had asked the superstar batsman to reconsider his decision. Kohli had refuted Ganguly’s statement during his explosive press conference before leaving for the Test series against South Africa, saying he had no such communication with the board’s chairman and that he had to go through the ODIs one-and-a-half hours before the selection. Was informed of his removal as captain. Meeting for the SA Series
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However, Sharma said on Friday, “From the selectors to the (BCCI) office bearers, the convener of the selection meeting and everyone present asked Kohli to wait on the T20 captaincy till the World Cup is over.”
“When the meeting started before the World Cup, it was a surprise to everyone. Everyone present there told him to reconsider. All the selectors felt that this would affect the World Cup. All the coordinators and board officials told Virat to continue for the sake of Indian cricket. Everyone was in a state of shock. We wanted to talk after the World Cup.
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“We were in the middle of the World Cup when Virat announced that he would step down from T20 captaincy. But all the board members asked him to reconsider. This was not the time to tell them that if you leave one format you will be forced to leave the other format.”
“At the time when he announced to us, everyone told him that we might reconsider after the World Cup. Our aim is to take the Indian team to the top. We don’t want controversy. Make sure the best players play for the country.”
Asked about speculations about the rift between Kohli and Rohit, the chief selector said, “Don’t speculate. I was a part of media for 20 years. I laugh at speculation. They are working together as a family, team, unit.”
“Everyone told him to reconsider and reconsider,” he said.
(with agencies)
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