Virat Kohli steps down: Anushka Sharma pays tribute, Rohit Sharma 'shocked' - Live Updates, News
The world of cricket is still coming to terms with Virat Kohli's decision to step down from India's Test captaincy.
Virat Kohli had told his teammates 24 hours before telling the rest of the world that he would be stepping down as Test captain. (BCCI)
Why did Virat Kohli step down as India's Test captain through a shock announcement on Saturday? Who will be India's new Test captain? Questions outnumber answers as Indian cricket comes to terms with the former captain's bombshell. Here's the latest developments surrounding the 'leadership crisis' in Indian cricket.
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"It has definitely surprised me that Virat Kohli has left Test captaincy. I think he is still very annoyed with the decision of the selectors or the board when hey said you're not going to be the captain of the 50-overs side. That I think he still has in mind, he is still thinking 'why they removed from the 50-over format?" Madan Lal told India Today.
Under Kohli, India won 40 out of 68 Tests with memorable series wins in England and Australia being the highlight.
"Under Virat's leadership Indian cricket has made rapid strides in all formats of the game ..his decision is a personal one and bcci respects it immensely ..he will be an important member to take this team to newer heights in the future. A great player. well done .. @BCCI @imVkohli," Ganguly tweeted.
While Kohli is India's most successful Test skipper, MS Dhoni is second in the list with 27 victories in 60 games and Ganguly comes third with 21 wins.
Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Amir are among a host of players to have paid their tributes to captain Kohli.
If there was one bowler in the Indian team who was Virat Kohli's lieutenant, it had to be Jasprit Bumrah.
"When he gets that vibe that his captaincy is under threat, he tends to quit,” Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.
"He was uncomfortable when Anil Kumble was the coach and once Shastri and the support staff came in, he felt comfortable. The new coach (Rahul Dravid) is no Ravi Shastri. He would have got some inkling of the kind of support he was going to get... Individually, his batting is not at its best. All that has just added up," he said.
"I'm not surprised at all. But I had thought that it might have come at the presentation ceremony. But, maybe, it would have looked like it has come out of a sense of anger having lost the series. So, I think a little bit of gap and the decision has come," Gavaskar said during a chat. He also suggested that Rishabh Pant could be a long-term successor to Kohli.
Ashwin said Kohli's biggest success is the benchmark he has set as India captain, that whoever his successor is, will have to reach up to.
"Shocked!! But congratulations on a successful stint as Indian captain," said Rohit in an Instagram post. "All the best wishes for the future," Rohit further said in Hindi.
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