5 months ago. New Delhi, Delhi, India

Too much leadership: Sourav Ganguly on why Rohit replaced Kohli as ODI captain

Rohit Sharma was on Wednesday named India’s ODI captain “going forward”
Ganguly said the BCCI had “requested” Kohli to continue as the T20 captain
Kohli stepped down as T20 captain after India's disastrous World Cup in October-November

Rohit Sharma was named India’s ODI captain as former skipper Virat Kohli’s decision to step down from the T20I role created a problem of “too much leadership” in white-ball formats, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly said on Thursday.

Rohit was on Wednesday named India’s ODI captain “going forward” after taking over as the T20I skipper in the home series against New Zealand. The Mumbai Indians skipper’s first assignment will be the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, with the 2023 ODI World Cup also on the horizon.

Ganguly said the BCCI had “requested” Kohli to continue as the T20 captain and given he refused to do so, the governing body decided to implement a change in leadership in both formats.

"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," BCCI president and former India captain told PTI.

Kohli stepped down as T20 captain after India's disastrous World Cup campaign in October-November.

Ganguly said the selectors felt that multiple leaders in the white-ball format would lead to confusion and that's why the Chetan Sharma-led committee suggested that it's better to have one leader.

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"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," Ganguly added.

So how does he see Rohit performing as ODI skipper? Ganguly said that he wouldn't like to make any predictions but is confident of the new skipper's abilities.

"It's very difficult to predict. I wish him all the best and hope he does a good job," he said.

But was it taken into consideration that Kohli has been a good ODI skipper with over 70 per cent win record in 95 games that he was in charge.

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"Yes, we did consider that but if you look at Rohit's record in whatever ODIs he has captained for India, it's very good. Bottom line, there can't be two white ball captains." The sensitive question of not winning any ICC Trophy during Kohli's tenure at the helm was also asked but the Board president refused to divulge the details of the discussion.

"I can't explain more about what all was discussed and what selectors have said, but this is primary reason for having Rohit as white ball captain and Virat accepted it," he revealed.

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On behalf of BCCI, it was the president himself and the chairman of selectors, who spoke to Kohli and intimated the BCCI's decision.

"Yes, I have spoken to Virat personally and chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma has also spoke to him on the issue," he signed off.

Meanwhile, Rohit also replaced Ajinkya Rahane as Kohli's deputy in the Test format. The decision was on expected lines given to Rahane's lack of form with the bat.

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Too much leadership: Sourav Ganguly on why Rohit replaced Kohli as ODI captain

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