‘If you are changing the captain, you write and inform the President’ – Kirti Azad on India's ODI captaincy transfer

The comments made by Virat Kohli and Saurav Ganguly in recent weeks regarding the captaincy saga have shocked the Indian cricket fraternity. Both of them have narrated two different stories regarding the same issue, and it didn’t go down well with the Indian cricket fans as well. Both sides have received ample support from fans and former cricketers.

Kirti Azad, a former Indian all-rounder who was a part of the World Cup-winning team of 1983, has provided his comments on this issue. In a recent interview with News18, Azad mentioned that the selectors should have consulted with Ganguly first regarding the removal of Kohli from the ODI captaincy position. He also said that this practice had been followed for a long time, even when he was the national selector.

“If this was to be decided by the selectors, they should have gone up to the president. Generally, what happens is that when a team is selected – when I was also a national selector – we would select the team and go to the president of the board. He would see, okay it, sign it and then it would be announced. But it is always the custom that a team after being selected goes to have a look,” Azad said.

At the press conference, Kohli said he found out about his removal as ODI captain one-and-a-half hours before the Test team for the South Africa series was announced. Kohli’s words have added another chapter to this already complex story. Many people have wondered whether selectors should have consulted Kohli before making this significant decision.

Virat is not upset, but I feel he is hurt for the way he has been informed: Kirti Azad

During the press conference, Kohli mentioned he said ‘ok fine’ to selectors after being informed regarding his lay off. Azad feels that Kohli would have felt hurt because of how selectors told him. Azad also said he doesn’t want to disrespect anyone, but Kohli’s experience of playing international cricket is much more than everyone in the selection panel.

“So obviously, if you are changing the captain for any format, you write and inform the president. Virat is not upset, but I feel he is hurt for the way he has been informed. So once it went to Sourav, he could have also unofficially spoken about it. You can understand, I don’t want to say this. All the selectors are really great guys, but if you put their total number of matches, it won’t be even half of what Virat has played,” Azad mentioned.