Virat Kohli on Saturday quit as India’s Test captain, saying he did his job with “absolute honesty” and time was right to step aside from the leadership role.
Kohli led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 Tests while losing 17. His winning percentage of 58.52 was the best among all Indian captains ever.
Also read: Virat Kohli’s decision is personal: BCCI President Sourav Ganguly
Events leading up Virat Kohli’s decision:
1) Virat Kohli steps down as T20I, IPL captain:
Days before the IPL 2021, Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as India’s T20 skipper after the World Cup. As soon as the second-leg of the league kicked off in the UAE, the 33-year-old said that the season will be his last as Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper.
Also read: Cricket fraternity stunned as Virat Kohli steps down as Team India’s Test Captain
2) ‘Workload management’ brought into picture:
“As I said it’s been an honour, but things have to be kept in the right perspective,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony when asked about any emotions on stepping down from T20I captaincy.
“This was the right time for me to manage my workload.”
3) Finishes fourth in IPL 2021:
With Kohli captaining the side for the one last season, Royal Challengers Bangalore finished the league on the third rung of the points table. Their campaign ended with a four-wicket loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the eliminator.
Kohli finished the season with 405 runs in 15 games, 72* being his top score.
Also read: Cricket fraternity stunned as Virat Kohli steps down as Team India’s Test Captain
4) India’s disastrous T20 World Cup campaign:
Virat Kohli was to step down as T20I skipper after the tournament. He was on center stage. However, India lost their opening match to Pakistan by 10 wickets, Kohli top-scoring with 57 off 49 balls. The Men in Blue then failed to deliver against New Zealand. After the defeat against the Kiwis, their chances to qualify for the semi-finals banked on the results of other league games.
Even after winning all their remaining games, India were knocked out. For the first time they failed to reach the semi-finals of an ICC tournament since 2012.
5) Virat Kohli sacked as ODI captain
Ahead of the South Africa tour, the BCCI announced that Virat Kohli was sacked as the ODI captain and replaced by Rohit Sharma.
As per BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, the board insisted Kohli not give up the T20I captaincy but he didn’t agree. The selectors wanted different leaders for limited-overs teams.
However, Kohli later revealed that he didn’t have a prior communication.
Also Read: Virat Kohli steps down as Test captain: A look at his captaincy record in Tests
6) Kohli vs BCCI:
Virat Kohli contradicted Sourav Ganguly’s statement. He, in a pre-South Africa tour press confernece, said, “I told the BCCI before giving up T20I captaincy. I told them my point of view. The BCCI received it very well. There was no offence. It was received well, saying it’s a progressive step. I told them I will continue as ODI captain and Test captain.”
“Reasons? Obviously we haven’t won ICC tournament. I understand the logic behind why they took it,” he said when asked why he was sacked.
7) India’s Test series vs South Africa:
The 33-year-old was at the centre of controversy during the third Test in South Africa as he vented his anger into the stump mic after a close DRS call for LBW went in favour of opposition skipper Dean Elgar.
