WATCH: How BCCI shot down suggestions to strip vice-captaincy off Rohit Sharma

Even as there is a sense of anticipation around his potential elevation to the captaincy post for India in T20Is, a senior journalist has revealed that there was a proposal to remove experienced opener Rohit Sharma from the role of a vice-captain in the ODI side. Rohit has been the deputy to Virat Kohli since […]
 
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WATCH: How BCCI shot down suggestions to strip vice-captaincy off Rohit Sharma

Even as there is a sense of anticipation around his potential elevation to the captaincy post for India in T20Is, a senior journalist has revealed that there was a proposal to remove experienced opener Rohit Sharma from the role of a vice-captain in the ODI side.

Rohit has been the deputy to Virat Kohli since the latter’s appointment as the full-time ODI and T20I skipper after MS Dhoni relinquished his post in early 2017 and has led the side successfully whenever required.

But renowned journalist Boria Majumdar revealed in an online Q & A session with Indian fans over YouTube, that there was a proposal made to remove Rohit Sharma from his position in the leadership group of the 50-over side.

WATCH: How BCCI shot down suggestions to strip vice-captaincy off Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has been India’s ODI and T20I vice-captain.

“There was a call around 5 pm (Thursday) attended by secretary Jay Shah, president Sourav Ganguly, five selectors, captain Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma,” Boria said on his show.

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WATCH: How BCCI shot down suggestions to strip vice-captaincy off Rohit Sharma

“That’s where this was (Kohli’s future as captain) discussed. It was also tabled (considered) if Rohit should step down from vice-captaincy of the ODI side and two new vice-captains are appointed for the shorter formats (including T20Is).” This proposal, however, “was shot down by the board.”

 

The scanner on Rohit Sharma’s ODI vice-captaincy comes as a sudden shock for everyone. He has stepped up to the table whenever required and has helped India retain their winning ways in the 50-over cricket. Under him, India have won 8 of their 10 ODIs, besides winning 15 of the 19 T20Is he has led the side in. Rohit is also the most successful skipper in IPL history, with five titles under his belt.

Virat Kohli’s future as ODI captain to be evaluated after T20 World Cup: Boria Majumdar

Captaincy is suddenly the talk of the town in Indian cricket because of Virat Kohli’s unexpected announcement on Thursday (September 16) that he will quit the leadership post in T20Is after the coming T20 World Cup.

But even though Kohli mentioned clearly that his decision is about “workload” concerns and that he will continue as captain in Tests and ODIs, there are theories doing the rounds that he could be removed from the post in ODIs by the BCCI top brass.

Boria indicated that there is indeed some truth behind those rumours, saying “they (the BCCI regime) will evaluate the captain’s (Kohli’s) performance in the T20 World Cup and then take a call, and take a call (specifically) as far as the 50-over format is concerned.”

The senior journalist claimed this is not a “conspiracy theory” but a “fact”.

“Will Virat retain it (the ODI captaincy)? If India wins the T20 World Cup, no question he would. (In that case) it is obviously going to be his wish (whether to continue or not). But if India doesn’t do well, the board is very much within its rights to consider (his captaincy future).”

To stress his point, Boria said this is the reason why both Ganguly and Shah only congratulated Kohli for his services as the T20I captain but said nothing about his future in ODI captaincy post heading to the 2023 World Cup in India.

Boria is a popular journalist, whose close links with the BCCI regime since Ganguly’s takeover as board president are well known. His words have only added fuel to the fire and debates around Kohli’s captaincy future.