Over the last few days, the war of words between the BCCI president Saurav Ganguly and the Indian test captain, Virat Kohli have really intensified. The problem is that they are fighting in the media rather than in a meeting. Both are equally combative and one will not withdraw himself in favour of the other. Moreover, Ganguly seems to be having an opinion of everything. I have never seen or heard a board president talk this frequently. It is time Ganguly tones down his interaction with the media. Let me try to analyse in Saurav Ganguly and Kohli controversy.
Ever since Rohit Sharma replaced Kohli as the white ball captain, things are not under control. Controversy seems to erupt every now and then. Ganguly says onething to the press and Kohli contradicts that later.
BCCI is not known for the best of communication with the players. This is not new. This has happened in the past. A lot of captains and a lot of players have always suffered at the hands of the BCCI. This will continue to happen in the future too. The hope was that with a former player as the president, who himself had suffered, things will improve and the communication between the BCCI, the selectors and the team will be smooth but it is not to be. It is ultimately the Indian cricket fans who are left to be highly depressed with the entire scenario.
Ganguly did not ask Kohli to continue
First, you have Ganguly who informed the press that as soon as Kohli informed the board of his decision to leave the T20 captaincy, he called Kohli and requested him to continue to which Kohli did not agree. Now, Kohli has revealed that he was never requested to continue and then when he informed his decision it was welcomed as progressive.
“When I decided to leave the T20I captaincy and approached the BCCI about my decision, it was received well – there was no offence or hesitation, I wasn’t told to reconsider it”
Kohli not informed about ODI captaincy
Second, Kohli says that he was never informed of the board’s decision before he was replaced as the ODI skipper. Agreed that Kohli has never won an ICC tournament but he has done enough to be afforded this courtesy. He was informed but as an afterthought by the chief selector Chetan Sharma. Certainly, Kohli or for that matter, every captain deserves more. I am not for one moment advocating Kohli to be reinstated. Far from it. He has had his chances and it is time to move on but Kohli must have been informed before taking the decision. It wasn’t even necessary to consult with him. Just information.
“I was contacted one-and-a-half hours before the selection meeting on December 8 for the Test series,” Kohli said of the communication (or lack of it) with the BCCI on the ODI captaincy. “There was no prior communication to me at all from when I announced the T20I captaincy decision until the eighth (of December) where, as I said, I got a call one-and-a-half hours before the selection meeting.
Kohli never asked for time off
Third, the controversy over Kohli’s unavailability for the South African ODIs. Kohli has now said that he never asked for a break. It does make sense because he had just taken a break albeit for about 2 weeks during the New Zealand series. I don’t think he would have wanted one more break. Especially now that the captaincy has been changed. Kohli has since then clarified that nothing can derail him from playing for the country.
All of these points to gross mismanagement on the part of the board. This will have to stop somewhere. The board president who is in the news all the time will have to answer questions related to the board. Why are the stadiums so shabby? What about the plight of the paying spectators that is so horrible? Why are the players made play until their body is broken? What is the point of all the meaningless games that are scheduled? Why aren’t the players getting enough time to rest, recuperate and practice on their shortcomings? However, Ganguly will have none of it. He talks to the media which is not really in his purview.
The innumerable and needless Ganguly statements
Just before the T20 World Cup, he said that India will make it 13-0 at the World Cups. What happened after that we all know. Previously, he had said that Indian players are much hardened than the English or Australians and they are not really bothered about the bio-bubble. However, the fact of the matter is that the Indian players do feel the pressure of the bubble but they are now showing it because of the obvious fear for the all powerful board. Then the Virat Kohli controversy where he said that he requested Kohli not to resign the T20 captaincy but he didn’t oblige. Now the latest where he has said that Kohli fights a lot. This is an unwarranted comment. You are rubbishing the national captain to the media.
Ganguly has also revealed that Laxman courted the Indian team coaching role that eventually went to Dravid. Ofcourse, Laxman is well within his rights to ask for it but it is not correct for the board president to reveal the same.
Ganguly must learn the art of discretion. He has a long way to travel on that front. He must leave matters of cricket to the selectors and to the team. Ganguly has a bigger role in Indian cricket that of being the board president. It will be better if he concentrates on his duties rather than poking his nose on everything.
Kapil Dev is spot on
“It is not good to point fingers on anybody at this point in time. The South Africa tour is coming and please pay attention to the tour,”
Conclusion to Saurav Ganguly and Kohli controversy
Hopefully, this mudslinging in public will not have adverse effect on Kohli, Rohit and the team during the South African tour. A bigger price awaits the Indian team on that tour. Focus must be on that and nothing else. Ganguly will do well to keep quiet.