'Dirty Politics' - Twitter slams Sourav Ganguly as Virat Kohli refutes his claim on T20I captaincy

The week gone by was all about controversies in Indian cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took the cricket fans by storm by naming Rohit Sharma as ODI captain on December 8. The veteran opener took over the reins from Virat Kohli and the same left the cricket fraternity divided. Making the topic more sensational, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly stated that he ‘requested’ Kohli to not step down as T20I skipper.

As the 33-year-old didn’t agree to do so, the BCCI selectors decided to sack him as ODI skipper as they didn’t want two separate captains in white-ball cricket. For the unversed, Kohli had stepped down as India’s T20I captain post the T20 World Cup 2021 last month. The veteran had earlier stated that he would continue leading the team in the other two formats.

I was never told I that should not leave T20 captaincy: Virat Kohli

Owing to the same, his sacking didn’t go down well with fans and experts. Meanwhile, Kohli has claimed that he wasn’t asked to not quit T20I captaincy, contradicting Ganguly’s statement. In fact, the 33-year-old stated that he was called up just 90 minutes before the selection meeting on and the selectors informed him that they were not in favour of split captaincy.

“I was called up 90 mins before Dec 8 selection meeting. Selectors said they didn’t want split captaincy. I was never told I should not leave T20 captaincy. I was never told I should not leave T20 captaincy. There was no prior communication (from BCCI),” Kohli said in the press conference on Wednesday (December 15).

Coming to Ganguly’s statement, the 49-year-old had said: “I personally requested him (Kohli) not to give up T20 captaincy. Obviously, he felt the workload. Which is fine, he has been a great cricketer, he has been very intense with his cricket. He has captained for a long period of time and these things happen. Because I have captained for a long period of time; therefore, I know,” said Ganguly in a conversation with News18.

As Kohli refuted Ganguly’s claim, Twitterati went in a frenzy and accused BCCI of scripting a conspiracy against the talismanic batter. President Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah were also highly criticized.

Meanwhile, let’s look how netizens reacted to the whole saga:

Kohli va Ganguly the battle of titans🥶🥵🥵#BCCI#JayShah pic.twitter.com/frW6zNAeu6

— Frozen🥶 (@ein_scofield) December 15, 2021

#Kohli #viratkholi #ViratKohli #INDvsSA

Virat Kohli in the press conference to Ganguly, Jay Shah, #BCCI, Journalists, KSR, etc: pic.twitter.com/csbscBMDSJ

— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) December 15, 2021

ICT fans to Ganguly and Jay Shah right now:pic.twitter.com/jp9t088xdl

— Khushi🌻 (@khushhay) December 15, 2021

Live scenes from BCCI office. #Kohli #Ganguly #Jayshah pic.twitter.com/UDLqz8xRo4

— Yaman (@Oye_lambu) December 15, 2021

Rubbishing Saurav Ganguly's claims, Virat Kohli says: "I was never told that I should not leave T20I cricket captaincy."

I'd trust Kohli over Ganguly any day.

Especially when one is playing his heart out for India and the other is working under Jay Shah#ViratKohli

— Parth MN (@parthpunter) December 15, 2021

Virat Kohli exposed them in minutes! #ShameOnGanguly#ShameonJayShah@SGanguly99 @JayShah pic.twitter.com/wip0I3liSv

— VK ERA (@BMCI__) December 15, 2021

#BCCI #viratkholi #Kohli

Them: Which is a better Joker? Joaquin Phoenix or Heath Ledger

Me: Ganguly and Jay Shah – BCCI pic.twitter.com/cjnKqFzTsf

— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) December 15, 2021

Virat Kohli #BCCI #viratkholi #Kohli

Ex BCCI President Shashank Manohar to ICT fans after seeing Ganguly – Jay Shah duo destroying Indian cricket: pic.twitter.com/gUc5WzTVrz

— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) December 15, 2021

#BCCI #viratkholi #Kohli

Indian fans to Jay Shah and Ganguly after that Virat Kohli press conference: pic.twitter.com/tPMuyGR58u

— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) December 15, 2021

Le @SGanguly99 and @JayShah –
Ham best friends hai
#BCCI #ViratKohli #viratkholi #dada #JayShah pic.twitter.com/IzXLQKfEXy

— Heavy Ash-Win🇮🇳 (@MankadSpinner) December 15, 2021

BCCI just appointed a media projected Choker with a real choker as their white ball Captain. Absolutely love hairless Jay Shah and gut less Sourav Ganguly for their clownery! 💀 pic.twitter.com/T0DEZHKYRV

— ayaan. (@AyanMusk) December 9, 2021

With Virat Kohli today's press conference everything is clear

Its not Virat Vs Rohit Sharma
Its actually Virat Vs BCCI

Sourav Ganguly , Jay Shah, the @BCCI , selection committee is making the team collapse

Request to Virat & Rohit fans to stay together #ShameOnBCC pic.twitter.com/UKZ0y3HRa1

— AADITYA🇮🇳 (🕉️☪️✝️☬) (@beingaaditya02) December 15, 2021

Saurav Ganguly and Jay Shah to #Viratkohli's press conference : pic.twitter.com/hizVyQBUVu

— UmderTamker (@jhampakjhum) December 15, 2021

BCCI: "It's not wise to have two different white ball captains."
also BCCI: *has two different white ball captains in Indian cricket women's team.*
Harmanpreet (in t20Is) & Mithali (in ODIs)

Ganguly & Jay Shah's BCCI reeks of sheer hypocrisy and dirty politics !!

— avg test cricket elitist (@tanyamidhaa) December 9, 2021

Virat Kohli said, "I wasn't told to not leave the T20i captaincy".
Every cricket lover to BCCI –
Ganguly + Jay shah + Ambani + Dravid = Rohit Captain / Kholi sacked #Kohli pic.twitter.com/Yxr29xq9bq

— Akshay Dubey Vlogs (@noonecreate) December 15, 2021