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Agencies
Dubai
India captain Virat Kohli on Thursday, 16 September stated that he’d step down as skipper of the side in T20Is following the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
Kohli has played 90 T20Is for India, and captained them in 45 of those matches, leading the side to victory in 27 of them.
The 32-year-old stated that he’d come to the decision after “a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people” as well as the leadership group, including Ravi Shastri, the head coach, and Rohit Sharma, India’s limited-overs vice-captain.
“Arriving at this decision took a lot of time,” Kohli said in his statement, released on social media.
“After a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people, Ravi bhai and also Rohit, who have been an essential part of the leadership group, I have decided to step down as the T20 captain after this T20 World Cup in Dubai in October.
“I have also spoken to the (BCCI) secretary Mr. Jay Shah and the president of the BCCI Sourav Ganguly along with all the selectors about the same. I will continue to serve Indian cricket and the Indian team to the best of my ability.”
Kohli cited the “immense workload” he has been managing for most of the last decade, as an all-format player and as captain, as the reason for his decision.
“Understanding workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats, and captaining regularly for the last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian Team in Test and ODI cricket,” Kohli said.
“I have given everything to the team in my time as T20 captain, and will continue to do so for the T20 team as a batsman moving forward.”
The BCCI are as yet to announce Kohli’s successor as captain in the format. His decision comes a little over a week after the selection committee announced India’s squad for the World Cup.
The move could Kohli dedicate time to his batting – following an extended purple patch spanning the majority of the last decade, Kohli has struggled since the pandemic-enforced break early in 2020. His last international century came in November 2019, in a pink-ball Test in Kolkata against Bangladesh.
“I have given everything to the team in my time as T20 captain, and will continue to do so for the T20 team as a batsman moving forward.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said: “Virat has been a true asset for Indian Cricket and has led with aplomb. He is one of the most successful captains in all the formats. The decision has been made keeping in mind the future roadmap.
“We thank Virat for his tremendous performance as the T20I Captain. We wish him all the best for the upcoming World Cup and beyond and hope that he continues to score plenty of runs for India.”
‘Unselfish decision’: Vaughan on Kohli
stepping down
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan termed Virat Kohli’s decision to leave T20I captaincy after the 2021 T20 World Cup as an “unselfish” one.
Kohli has decided to step down from T20I captaincy after the ICC T20 World Cup in November this year. The India skipper said he needs to give himself space in order to play all three formats for the country. “Well Done... that’s a very unselfish decision and also one which will give you some nice space to hopefully relax a little away from all the pressures,” Vaughan commented on Kohli’s Instagram post.
The 32-year-old cricketer will continue to be available for selection for the T20 format post the upcoming ICC event in 2021, which is hosted by the BCCI in UAE and Oman.
Dubai
India captain Virat Kohli on Thursday, 16 September stated that he’d step down as skipper of the side in T20Is following the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
Kohli has played 90 T20Is for India, and captained them in 45 of those matches, leading the side to victory in 27 of them.
The 32-year-old stated that he’d come to the decision after “a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people” as well as the leadership group, including Ravi Shastri, the head coach, and Rohit Sharma, India’s limited-overs vice-captain.
“Arriving at this decision took a lot of time,” Kohli said in his statement, released on social media.
“After a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people, Ravi bhai and also Rohit, who have been an essential part of the leadership group, I have decided to step down as the T20 captain after this T20 World Cup in Dubai in October.
“I have also spoken to the (BCCI) secretary Mr. Jay Shah and the president of the BCCI Sourav Ganguly along with all the selectors about the same. I will continue to serve Indian cricket and the Indian team to the best of my ability.”
Kohli cited the “immense workload” he has been managing for most of the last decade, as an all-format player and as captain, as the reason for his decision.
“Understanding workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats, and captaining regularly for the last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian Team in Test and ODI cricket,” Kohli said.
“I have given everything to the team in my time as T20 captain, and will continue to do so for the T20 team as a batsman moving forward.”
The BCCI are as yet to announce Kohli’s successor as captain in the format. His decision comes a little over a week after the selection committee announced India’s squad for the World Cup.
The move could Kohli dedicate time to his batting – following an extended purple patch spanning the majority of the last decade, Kohli has struggled since the pandemic-enforced break early in 2020. His last international century came in November 2019, in a pink-ball Test in Kolkata against Bangladesh.
“I have given everything to the team in my time as T20 captain, and will continue to do so for the T20 team as a batsman moving forward.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said: “Virat has been a true asset for Indian Cricket and has led with aplomb. He is one of the most successful captains in all the formats. The decision has been made keeping in mind the future roadmap.
“We thank Virat for his tremendous performance as the T20I Captain. We wish him all the best for the upcoming World Cup and beyond and hope that he continues to score plenty of runs for India.”
‘Unselfish decision’: Vaughan on Kohli
stepping down
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan termed Virat Kohli’s decision to leave T20I captaincy after the 2021 T20 World Cup as an “unselfish” one.
Kohli has decided to step down from T20I captaincy after the ICC T20 World Cup in November this year. The India skipper said he needs to give himself space in order to play all three formats for the country. “Well Done... that’s a very unselfish decision and also one which will give you some nice space to hopefully relax a little away from all the pressures,” Vaughan commented on Kohli’s Instagram post.
The 32-year-old cricketer will continue to be available for selection for the T20 format post the upcoming ICC event in 2021, which is hosted by the BCCI in UAE and Oman.
