Former coach Ravi Shastri clueless about what communication happened between Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli;
Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri said that a captain’s performance should be judged on how the cricketer performed and whether or not he did it with integrity, rather than the number of ICC titles won. Shastri’s comments come two weeks after Virat Kohli stepped down as India’s Test skipper. Kohli stepped down as T20I captain last year and was then removed as ODI captain because the selectors only wanted one white-ball leader.
“Many players have not won the World Cup, Sourav Ganguly has not won it, Rahul Dravid has not won it, Anil Kumble has not won it, Laxman has not won it. Even Rohit Sharma has not won it but it does not mean they are bad players. You go and play, there are just World Cup-winning captains — MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev. Sachin Tendulkar took six World Cups to lift his first title,” Shastri told ANI.
“It is not a question that you are judged by the World Cup, at the end of the day, you are judged on how you play, whether you play the game with integrity. That is how you judge the players at the end of the day,” he added.
Kohli and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly provided opposing accounts of how the ODI captaincy was taken away from him. Ganguly had also claimed that he had requested Kohli not to leave the T20I captaincy, but the 33-year-old has denied receiving such a message.
“I do not know what communication happened between both parties (Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli). I have not spoken to them, when I get the chance to talk to them. Then I can speak to give my viewpoint. You have half-knowledge, then you should be quiet. When you have full knowledge, then you should be speak,” said Shastri.
When asked whether Rohit Sharma is fit enough to be the next Test captain, Shastri said:
“I have not watched cricket for three months, when I see the cricket then I can give my judgment. If I have not seen then I will not give my verdict.”
Virat Kohli thanked Ravi Shastri and MS Dhoni for their constant support. In his note announcing his decision to step down as Test captain.
Talking about Virat’s decision to leave Test captaincy, Shastri said:
“There is a time for everything, you have to respect Virat’s choice. Many players in the past have left the captaincy to focus on their batting or cricket, be it Sunil Gavaskar or anyone. I have not seen anything, I do not think there will be much change in Kohli.”
(With ANI Inputs)