‘Don't know what the selectors thought’ – Madan Lal not happy with Virat Kohli’s axing as ODI captain

Virat Kohli’s sacking as India’s ODI captain has been a hot topic of discussion in the cricket world lately. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dropped the major bombshell on Wednesday (December 8) by naming Rohit Sharma as the new ODI skipper. Notably, Kohli, who stepped down as India’s T20I captain last month, had said that he would continue to lead the national team in the other two formats.

However, the BCCI selectors found it best to have only one skipper for both limited-overs format.  On Thursday, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly broke his silence over the decision, saying that Kohli was requested to not quit T20I captaincy. As he didn’t agree to do, the selectors decided to give the ODI captaincy to Rohit as well.

While several found this decision logical, there are many who think Kohli was hard-done by. Former India all-rounder and head coach Madan Lal belongs to the latter category. As Virat enjoyed a sensational run as the team’s ODI skipper, the veteran feels there was no need to sack him off the role. Lal further said that Kohli should have led India at the ODI World Cup two years later at home.

I thought Virat Kohli would lead India in the 2023 ODI World Cup: Madan Lal

“I don’t know what the selectors have thought about this, but if he [Kohli] is producing the right results then why [change him]? I can understand T20s [he stepped down as captain] because there is so much of cricket and he can concentrate on two other formats,” Lal was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

“But if you are successful and still you are removed, it will of course pinch him. I was thinking Kohli would have stayed [as captain] till the 2023 World Cup. It is very difficult to build a team, but easier to destroy it,” he added. Contradicting Ganguly’s statement of two different skippers creating confusion, Lal pointed out Kohli led the Test time while MS Dhoni had the charge of ODIs and T20Is for more than two years.

“I don’t understand why would there be confusion. Every captain has a different style, so confusion is for what. The style will anyway change in Test and limited-overs. Virat and Rohit have their own style of leading the teams. MS Dhoni too had his own style. At the international level, it is about professionalism and performing all the time,” the World Cup winner opined.