MUMBAI: This wink, wink, nudge, nudge is getting tedious and predictable. Virat Kohli’s recent announcement that he was giving up T20 captaincy (both Team India and Royal Challengers) has let off a veritable flood of reportage from “reliable BCCI sources” and “experts” (whatever that means).
So now, after the fact as it were, we have breathless reports about dissensions in the camp and disgruntled teammates. That particular list is growing by the day. It started with R Ashwin (for being left out of the team for the fourth Test of the recent series England) and now includes Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara (about Kohli’s captaincy after the loss in the WTC Final).
The most laughable part of all these after-the-fact revelations are that they devolve around characters whose lack of spine when standing up to authority is as good as written in stone. Cowering is the word that comes to mind as far as Indian cricketers are concerned when it comes to authority or anyone “above their station”, which the overtly aggressive and in your face Team India captain most definitely is. Except when it comes to authority (read BCCI and the political establishment), where Kohli pretty much can be guaranteed to toe the line like the rest of India’s cricketing superstars.
So innuendo aside, the moot point really is what the “establishment” has to state on the matter on record. BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal on Tuesday rejected such claims and said: “The board didn’t ask him to step down. It was absolutely his own decision. Why would we ask him to step down? He was doing a great job.”
Referring to former skipper MS Dhoni’s appointment as mentor for Team India for the T20 World Cup (again apparently to quell dressing room rumblings and offer “guidance”), Dhumal said that India will definitely benefit from Dhoni’s presence.
“He (Dhoni) has been a great leader. Under his captaincy, India won the inaugural World Twenty20, the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cups, the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Records are amazing. It is really great to have him as a mentor of the team (for the ICC World Cup).
“He has a good reputation and respect in the team, and also bringing him doesn’t mean to undermine anybody. They have also done a phenomenal job,” Dhumal added.
Dhumal doth protest too much? Possibly. Because there is no getting away from the feeling that the source of all the speculation around Kohli and his future is emanating from the BCCI’s augean stables.
