India captain Virat Kohli’s eye-catching media conference has landed a stunned BCCI as it explores its options on how to deal with the crisis, while ensuring that the team plays an important Test match. Don’t get distracted by off-field play before the series. ,
The Indian Test captain said during a press conference before leaving for South Africa for the three-match series that he was never asked “to give up the T20 captaincy”, as BCCI president Sourav Ganguly told various media outlets Was.
There has hardly been an instance in the past where it becomes a choice between a spoken word by a current captain, who is also the reigning superstar of Indian cricket, against a decorated former captain who holds the presidency. .
No one in the BCCI is understood to be happy with what happened on Wednesday, but they also understand that any strong reaction could be counter-productive in their bid for a quick fix.
Kohli arrived in South Africa this evening, but the board president in Kolkata made it clear that he would not make any public statements.
“No statement, no press conference. We will deal with it, leave it to (BCCI),” Ganguly told media persons in his hometown.
It is reliably learned that senior BCCI functionaries, including Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah, were engaged in a Zoom call on Wednesday, where a collective decision was taken not to hold any press conferences or press releases.
“Expert opinion was sought on how to deal with the sensitive matter as it also involves the honor of the office of the President. The BCCI is aware that a Test series is imminent and any hasty decision or statement can affect the morale of the team.
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The best approach is for both the captain and the chairman to sit across the table and amicably settle differences or miscommunication where statements may have been lost in translation.
However, so far neither Ganguly nor Shah can speak to the captain.
Normally, a centrally contracted player should not make any critical comments about the establishment or office bearers.
But whether Kohli’s clarification on what happened in response to a question would amount to breaking protocol rather than making a statement is also a question.
So there is no easy solution to this problem.
The veteran Indian captain, who has handled the media for over 13 years, knew what was coming his way and was ready.
Like a master batsman who can dictate terms to bowlers, Kohli was in charge at a press meet, which was organized by the board, and articulated his views on three issues very clearly.
Firstly, quashing the rumors about his non-participation in the three ODIs, secondly, inform the world about his removal as ODI captain 90 minutes before the team selection meeting and Finally, rebutting Ganguly whether he was asked to stay. as T20 captain
If one listens to all his statements, he has never expressed any official displeasure at his expulsion, which he said is understandable given the lack of ICC silverware.
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Kohli, who loves good scraps, often thrives in these conditions and if he gets a couple of hundreds in South Africa, he will be in a very strong position. If the team wins the series, which will be his last as India’s Test captain, it will be the icing on the cake.
So, will BCCI allow this to pass? Probably not, but so far, the prospect of a satisfactory reconciliation looks slim.
It seems like a long drawn out chess battle – which the BCCI’s Mandarins ideally want to end in a “honorable draw” so that Indian cricket is the winner.
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