Sourav Ganguly opens up on Virat Kohli's removal as India ODI captain

Virat Kohli stepped down as T20 captain after India's dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2021 and Rohit Sharma was appointed as India's T20 captain.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday handed over India's ODI responsibilities to Rohit Sharma as well.

Fans and cricket fraternity criticized the BCCI for the removal of Virat Kohli as India ODI captain and asked the Indian cricket board to respect the player as he was axed without being told first via a brutal tweet.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr. Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward," the BCCI tweeted.

However, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said that Virat Kohli was asked not to give up T20 captaincy irrespective of India's performance in the T20 World Cup 2021.

"It's a call that the BCCI and selectors took together. Actually, the BCCI had requested Virat not to step down as T20I skipper, but obviously, he did not agree. And the selectors did not feel it right to have two different captains for two white-ball formats," Ganguly said, according to ANI.

Sourav Ganguly also stated that he and the chairman of the BCCI spoke to him.

"I as President personally spoke to Virat Kohli and the chairman of selectors has also spoken to him," he added.

Virat Kohli will lead India in the longest format of the game during the upcoming series against South Africa.