‘Cannot have two white-ball captains’ – Sourav Ganguly on Rohit Sharma taking over from Virat Kohli as India’s ODI skipper

Sourav Ganguly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, reckoned that Team India couldn’t have afforded to have two different captains in the white-ball formats. Before the T20 World Cup 2021, Kohli put forth his decision of relinquishing T20I captaincy. Recently, he also made way for Rohit Sharma as the skipper of the national team in the 50-overs format.

Ganguly, one of the India’s greatest captains, said that he and the BCCI had urged Kohli to not resign as India’s T20I skipper, but the latter didn’t budge. The veteran also mentioned that having two different captains for ODIs and T20Is may not be ideal for the Men in Blue going forward.

Sourav Ganguly shares his opinions

“We had requested Virat not to step down as T20I captain but he didn’t want to continue as captain. So, the selectors felt that they cannot have two white-ball captains in two white-ball formats. That’s too much of leadership,” Ganguly was quoted as saying in India Today.

“I don’t know (about confusion) but that’s what they (selectors) felt. That’s how this conclusion was arrived at – that let Rohit captain in white-ball and let Virat be the red-ball skipper.

“We did consider that (Kohli’s outstanding record as ODI captain) but if you look at Rohit’s record in whatever ODIs he has captained for India, it’s very good. Bottom line, there can’t be two white-ball captains,” he stated.

Ganguly also wished for Rohit to punch above his weight and give an account of his leadership qualities in India’s upcoming assignments. “It’s very difficult to predict. I wish him all the best and I hope he does a good job,” Ganguly said. Earlier, Rohit captained India in quite a few ODIs and T20Is in the absence of Kohli.

Recently, India won the three-match T20I series against New Zealand 3-0 under Rohit’s leadership. Rohit’s own form with the bat was also up to the mark.

Ganguly also revealed that he and chairman of selectors, Chetan Sharma, had spoken to Kohli before the decision on December 8. “Yes, I have spoken to Virat personally and chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma also spoke to him on the issue,” he added.