January 16
Virat Steps Down As Test Captain; Ganguli Says…His Decision Is A Personal One
Virat Kohli on Saturday announced his decision to step down as India Test Captain. Millions of his followers, cricketers just stunned with the sudden decision of Kohli.
Kohli’s announcement came just a day after India lost to South Africa in the third and final Test in Cape Town, which resulted in a 2-1 series loss.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India congratulates Virat Kohli on an outstanding career as Team India’s Test Captain.
The BCCI and the selection committee respects his decision to move on from the captaincy role and has full confidence that he will continue to contribute as a player and help Indian cricket attain greater heights.
Virat has been the most successful Test captain India has ever produced. After taking over the reins from MS Dhoni, he has led India in 68 Test matches and secured 40 wins at a win percentage of 58.82.
As Test captain, he registered his first series win against Sri Lanka in 2015, a victory that India registered in the Emerald Island after 22 years.
Under his leadership, Team India also scripted history as they registered their first Test series win in Australia in 2018, clinched series in the West Indies, attained the No.1 spot in Test rankings and later in the subsequent years marched into the maiden ICC World Test Championship Final in 2021.
Kohli also holds the impeccable record of winning 24 out of the 31 Tests played at home as captain, having lost only two Tests.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said, “I personally thank Virat for his immense contributions as captain of the Indian cricket team. Under his leadership, the Indian cricket team has made rapid strides in all formats of the game. His decision is a personal one and the BCCI respects it immensely. He will continue to be a very important member of this team and take this team to newer heights with his contributions with the bat under a new Captain. Every good thing comes to an end and this has been a very good one.”
But, with Kohli’s announcement, several current and former cricketers have expressed their shock.
Within months after he opted to step down as India’s T20I skipper and was sacked from leadership role in ODIs, Virat Kohli has now relinquished the captaincy of the Test side as well.
“Shocked!! But congratulations on a successful stint as Indian captain. All the best for the future (Translated from Hindi),” Rohit captioned a picture alongside Kohli.
