Virat Kohli to step down from limited-overs captaincy after T20 World Cup - Reportsย
Current India captain Virat Kohli will reportedly step down from his responsibilities in white-ball cricket to focus on his batting. He is said to be open to sharing the captaincy load with vice-captain Rohit Sharma following the culmination of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE and Oman.
A glaring narrative links Kohli's poor batting form to the pressure of leading the team. Kohli apparently realizes this himself, and is open to backing down from the captaincy role to focus more on his batting.
The Times of India quoted sources as saying:
โVirat himself will make the announcement. He is of the view that he needs to concentrate on his batting and go back to becoming what heโs always been โ the best batsman in the world.โ
Kohli realizes that he needs to be in prime form with the team tackling World Cups in 2022 and 2023 and is prioritizing that ahead of keeping his captaincy in all three formats.
"Virat is also the first to realise that his overall responsibilities as captain across formats are taking a toll on his batting. He needs that space and freshness because he has a lot more to offer. If Rohit takes over as whiteball captain, Virat can continue leading Indiaโs red-ball aspirations and work on his T20 and One-day batting. Heโs just 32 and given his fitness, he will easily play top cricket for another five to six years at least.โ
Virat Kohli was handed the white-ball cricket captaincy after MS Dhoni stepped down in 2017. The skipper has found tremendous success as a leader but the absence of a major ICC trophy remains a glaring void.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the same page with the decision
Talks of sharing the captaincy across formats began after India's triumph in Australia earlier this year. Sources claim the impending change will be a win-win for the Indian team.
โIf he had to ever take over as white-ball captain, that time is now. And itโs going to be a win-win for the Indian team because the two senior cricketers are so well in tune with each other,โ said a source.
These are all the the T20 World Cup semi final, click here to find all the semi-finalist teams & winner.
Rohit Sharma has led India on occasions when Virat Kohli was rested. He boasts an impressive record as captain and has often rested his case on the limited opportunities that have come his way. India secured the 2018 Asia Cup under his leadership as well.