BIG PRESS CONFERENCE
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Phew, that was some press conference! The Indian Test skipper didn't shy away from answering any question and was to the point. We will have more detailed copies out on our website in a bit. Stick around!
On his relationship with Rohit
"Rohit is a very able captain and we have seen it in the IPL as well as for India. Dravid is also very valuable. Both of them will have my absolute support. here is no problem between me and Rohit. I have been clarifying since the last two and a half years or so. I'm really tired."
Playing in South Africa
"South Africa is the most challenging place when it comes to batting. South Africa is a place where we haven't won a series yet, so there is a lot of motivation in the camp. We will do our best to win in South Africa. South Africa was the start for us to start believing in that we can win overseas, followed by Australia and England. We are well placed and experienced to go and win a series in South Africa."
On playing as pure batter in white-ball formats
"I have done the best I could. My motivation level to perform for the team will never dip. As captain, I have been honest to my responsibilities and have been absolutely honest to the job. Batting, of course, when you have done this for a long time at the international level, you know how to perform. Nothing can derail me from playing for India. Nothing can derail me from being motivated to play for India. Lot of things that happen outside are not ideal but you have to do things in your control. I am mentally prepared and excited to do well in South Africa."
On Rohit and Jadeja's absence
"The team will miss Rohit Sharma in Tests because he was looking really good in England. This will also be the time that Rahul and Mayank cash in and get us good starts like they have done recently. Jadeja has been an important player for us. He contributes in all the department. Having said that, we have quality in the side. We have created the bench strength and environment where people have been grabbing their opportunities. I wish him (Jadeja) speedy recovery."
On being sacked as ODI captain
"I was contacted one-and-a-half hours before the selection meeting on the eighth (December) for the Test series. here was no prior communication to me at all since I announced the T20I captaincy decision until the 8th of December, where I got a call before the selection meeting. The chief selector discussed with me the Test team, to which we both agreed. And before ending the call, I was told the five selectors have decided I will not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, 'okay, fine', and in the selection call afterwards, we chatted about it briefly."
Kohli is available for ODI series
"I was and I am available for selection all this time. You should not be asking me this question, honestly. This question should be asked to people who are writing about these things and their sources, because as far as I'm concerned, I was always available. I have not had any communication with the BCCI saying I want to rest, so there were a few things that came out in the past as well that it was said I was attending some events or something that was absolutely not true either. All these people who are writing these things and their sources, to me they're absolutely not credible. As I said, I am available for selection for the ODIs in South Africa and I'm always keen to play."
Will Kohli play the ODI series?
We are not really sure! There are several reports surfacing online, with some of them suggesting he wants to take a break, while some say he will feature in the ODI series too. One reason for the current speculation could be that once India are back home, they will again be inside an extended bubble for three weeks with Sri Lanka coming in for Tests and T20 Internationals. There were also some reports that suggested that Kohli might take a break because of his daughter Vamika's first birthday (January 11). The right-handed batter will be playing his 100th Test match on that day. We will get all the answers in 15 minutes.
Rohit ruled out of Test series
The right-handed opener from Mumbai was also appointed India's vice-captain in Test cricket but Rohit will have to wait for now as he was ruled out of the Test series after sustaining a left hamstring injury during his training session in Mumbai. There is also no clarity on if he will be fit and available for the three-match ODI series, starting January 19.
Oh, this came 24 hours after Kohli was sacked:
Here's what Rohit Sharma had to say
"Five years that he led the team, he led from the front every time, we stepped onto the park, and there was clear grit and determination to win every game, that was the message to the entire squad. We have had a great time playing under him (Kohli) and I have played a lot of cricket under him, I have enjoyed each and every moment, still continue to do that," he said in an interview with bcci.tv.
"There are lot of things that we need to do right before we think of end result. The last ICC trophy (Champions Trophy), we won was in 2013. But I don't see anything wrong that we did after that Champions Trophy. We played well and performed as a team but just that we couldn't get that extra inch. That can happen as international cricket is very demanding but that's the challenge as we are all professionals."
Also read: If it can happen to God, then Kings are mere mortals
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly finally breaks silence
"We had requested Virat not to step down as T20 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. 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," he told PTI.
Kohli's legacy as ODI skipper
Kohli was a successful ODI captain, with a win/loss ratio of 2.407, which is the fourth-best among all captains who have led their team in at least 50 ODIs. The only Asian captain to win a series in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, Kohli lost only four series out of 19 during his tenure. However, the decision was largely based on India failing to bring a single silverware from the three mega events in which led the country.
Also read: The legacy of India’s most successful captain
India lost to Pakistan in the grand finale of the 2017 Champions Trophy, while New Zealand got the better of Kohli and Co. in the semifinal of the 2019 World Cup. However, the worst was yet to come, as India failed to qualify for the knockouts of this year's T20 World Cup. Kohli willingly gave away his T20I captaincy to Rohit, but such was not the case with his ODI captaincy.
How it all started
7:15 PM IST | Wednesday | December 8
In a press release of exactly 140 words, headlined “India’s squad for Tests against South Africa announced”, the BCCI initiated the squad conversation for the upcoming South Africa tour, labelled as the final frontier. As you would read along, there were several hot pieces of news, including Rohit Sharma being appointed as the Test vice-captain, the return of Hanuma Vihari, and injuries to Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, and Rahul Chahar. Very pertinent indeed.
But like it doesn’t matter, there was another bit of information right at the end: “The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr. Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward”. Nothing much. No more quotes from BCCI President or Secretary. No celebration of Kohli’s tenure nor any melodramatic explanation of what he means to the Indian team. Oh. Not even a mention of his name.
Just like that, the captaincy tenure of the most significant cricketer of this generation came to an end, in what has been made to look like an afterthought of a meeting set for a completely different objective. But then that’s BCCI and expecting anything merely professional is a proper subject of fantasy. This is not the first time there was no thought put into owing a transparent communication for the fans who have been in a one-sided relationship with India cricket for years now. This will not be the last.
Also read: Deja vu for Rahul Dravid and Indian cricket
Alright, my bad, that's a different topic altogether! For now, let's stick to Kohli!
Welcome
Hey there! Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Virat Kohli's press conference ahead of India's departure to South Africa. Make no mistake, this is not one of those "regular" pre-departure press conferences which the head coach and the captain do ahead of every tour.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME VIRAT KOHLI WILL SPEAK PUBLICLY AFTER BEING SACKED AS ODI CAPTAIN!
We will get some much-needed answers from the man himself. And, some of those answers will raise more questions. Here, we will bring you all the live updates from the press conference which will start around 1:00 PM IST. Stay tuned!
