Kohli has decided to step down as India’s T20I captain after the forthcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in UAE and Oman.
However, the great batsman confirmed that he will remain skipper in Tests and ODIs and will continue to offer his services as a specialist batsman in the shortest version.
“Workload”, Kohli mentioned in a statement issued on Twitter, was an important factor behind his decision as the all-format star cricketer looks to shed some of the extensive weight he has been carrying on his shoulders approaching his mid-thirties.
The 32-year-old said he had spoken to members of the BCCI regime, including president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah, before arriving at his call.
Close confidants such as head coach Ravi Shastri and limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma were also kept in the loop, Kohli confirmed.
“Of course, arriving at this decision took a lot of time. After a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people, Ravi bhai and also Rohit, who have been an essential part of the leadership group, I’ve decided to step down as the T20 Captain after this T20 World Cup in Dubai in October.”
he said.
In their statements, Shah confirmed he had been discussing the workload management part with Kohli “for the last six months”. Ganguly said the decision was taken with “the future roadmap” for Indian cricket in mind and the value that Kohli, the Test, ODI skipper and great all-format brings to the table.
Kohli took over the T20I captaincy in 2017 after MS Dhoni decided to relinquish the job in limited-overs cricket, having quit in Tests full-time at the start of 2015 upon his retirement from the format. Overall, Kohli has led India in 45 T20Is so far, with an impressive record: 27 wins, 14 losses and four no results, including a couple of ties.
Kohli boasts of an incredible T20I record as captain, having struck 1,502 runs at an average of 48.45 and strike-rate of 143.18. 12 of Kohli’s 28 T20I half-centuries have come as India captain. In all of 90 T20Is played for India, the modern-day giant has struck 3,159 runs at an average of 52.65 and strike-rate of 139.04.
Interestingly, the upcoming T20 World Cup will be Kohli’s first and last as a T20I skipper for India. It is likely that India will elevate his deputy Rohit Sharma to the captaincy post after the tournament that begins on October 17 and culminates on November 14.
Rohit has been successfully filling in whenever required as captain in the absence of Kohli and has won 15 of his 19 T20Is at the helm. He is also the most successful skipper in the Indian Premier League, where he has led Mumbai Indians to five titles.
While there are conspiracy theories created outside, Kohli’s departure from the captaincy post seems a simple shifting of the baton in a healthy system rich with resources to pick and choose from and a decision made to free up some load of its biggest asset.
