“I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team Test and ODI Cricket.” The statement released by Virat Kohli in September is an example of how fast the night changes. In the controversy between the BCCI and Virat Kohli, Virat has accepted his defeat.
An ambition to continue captaining the Test and ODI team by Kohli in September now remains a mere lie for all his fans across the world. After being sacked from the ODI captaincy, no one ever thought he would have decided to give up the test captaincy in a month. The loss in South Africa cannot be the legit reason for giving up the captaincy. But his frustration was quite visible throughout the series.
In his 7 years as the test captain, Virat ensured that he built a team that can not only win in home conditions but triumphed in the toughest conditions across the world. The stats or the pictures are evidence of his success but, the passion and the confidence that the current Indian team holds is more enchanting and another reason for him to be a proud captain.
2021 will surely be the worst year for Virat Kohli in his entire career. From struggling with his batting to making the same mistakes and then leaving the captaincy of T20 and IPL, later being sacked from ODI captaincy as well. But the way he has accepted it all is something to learn from. Indian cricket has become a subject of entertainment across the world with the entire BCCI Vs. Kohli’s saga challenges the way the cricket board treats players who are respected across the world.
In 2014, when MS Dhoni stepped down as the test captain, he ensured that he groomed Kohli as his perfect replacement which he must be proud of. But now with Virat gone, the perfect replacement is yet to be found in the current Indian team. Rohit Sharma will surely be a potential candidate as he has already taken over the white ball captaincy but his age will be a matter of concern for the BCCI who will be looking for a long-term captain. Besides, KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant don’t seem to be a perfect replacement at the moment as the pressure of captaincy might affect their natural behavior and game. Although, Virat’s decision to end his captaincy career from all the forms has created much trouble for the BCCI but now selecting the perfect replacement has become bigger trouble for them.
With the captaincy announcement that left millions of fans emotional, is Virat indicating his fans to be prepared for his retirement announcement too because of the politics that the BCCI has indulged in, it will be a no shocker if they start dropping one of the best cricketers the Indian cricket could ever see from the national side making it a matter of his lack of form, resulting in Virat once again accepting his defeat for the game he worships to win.
