With so many ‘plot twists’ in the Virat Kohli saga, Indian cricket stands to lose

TWIST after TWIST after TWIST. What is happening in Indian cricket? If you are a fan of the Indian side, then the events that have unfolded over the past week would have kept you at the edge of your seat.

It all started with Virat Kohli being removed as the captain of the Indian ODI side ahead of India’s tour to South Africa, with Rohit Sharma replacing him as the skipper. Then came the reports which stated that Kohli has decided to skip the ODI series against the Proteas to spend time with his family.

Then, Kohli himself attended the press conference ahead of India’s departure to South Africa and stated that he is available for the ODI series and also added that there were ‘lies’ written about him. And, Kohli revealed more…. Kohli said that he was NOT told by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to not relinquish the T20I captaincy, and in fact his decision to step down was received well.

Then comes a statement from a BCCI official, who has reiterated that Kohli was asked not to step down as the T20I captain. The official also revealed that the ‘difficulty’ of having two different white ball captains was discussed with Kohli as well.

Kohli and the BCCI have delivered two different versions of a particular incident. Phew! So much confusion. And you might be wondering just like this writer, WHAT IS GOING ON?

Former cricketers add spice to the ‘Kohli saga’

And then, you have the former cricketers who have their own opinions to make. Former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin feels that there might be a rift in the Indian dressing room between Rohit and Kohli, while Sunil Gavaskar feels that both these gladiators are blameless.

And then, comes Kirti Azad who feels that Kohli and Rohit will ‘suffer’ if they are not compatible with each other. Former cricketers have also added spice to the whole issue in their own way. This plot has had so many sub plots, and each passing day has been more intriguing than the previous one and has caught us off guard.

Virat Kohli has informed that he's not available for the ODI series & Rohit Sharma is unavailable fr d upcoming test. There is no harm in takin a break but d timing has to be better. This just substantiates speculation abt d rift. Neither wil be giving up d other form of cricket.

— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) December 14, 2021

Virat Kohli has gone without an international hundred for more than 2 years

And then, Virat Kohli, by his own lofty standards has not experienced a good run with the willow in recent times. He averages a paltry 28.41 in 2021 in Test match cricket, and has not scored a single international century since 2019. Read that again.

And, under Kohli’s captaincy, India were decimated by their arch rivals Pakistan and were knocked out of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the Super 12 stages. Kohli the batter has had a dry run with the willow in the whites, and India have failed to seize the crucial moments in a high pressure tournament like the World Cup, with Kohli at the helm. Surely, the great Virat Kohli is not going through the best of times in his career.

Why Indian cricket will be affected by the ‘Virat Kohli saga’?

So, then comes the important question. Which party will be affected the most due to this sensational Virat Kohli saga that is unfolding, with new versions of a specific incident floating around? Well, it is INDIAN CRICKET. Make no mistake about it.

We are living in times where mental health is of utmost importance, and the ‘climate’ inside a dressing room is pivotal. So, here we have a legend, who has scored over 12000 ODI runs, 43 tons averages close to 60 in ODIs, has led his side to the semifinal of the 2019 World Cup and has a win percentage of 70.43% as skipper, being dumped as the captain through a single tweet by his cricket board.

Virat Kohli (whether he is the captain or not) is an important asset for the Indian side in every format of the game, and there is no doubting that. And, if an all-time great is not in the best frame of mind while taking the field with all this drama happening around him, then it is not good for Indian cricket in the long run.

The BCCI is a powerful body and the richest cricket board in the world. They have the power to even influence the cricketing calendar, and their million-dollar baby (read the IPL) is the most popular cricket league in the world. And yes, there will also be the age-old adage ‘NOBODY IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME’ circulating around as well.

And then comes another part of this intriguing narrative. All this is unfolding at a time when Rahul Dravid, the ultimate team man is the head coach of the Indian side.

This Virat Kohli saga is not over. There will be more ‘TWISTS’ that will make their way to us in the coming days. Oh Indian cricket! What more do you have in store for us?