Virat Kohli took to social media on Thursday to announce that he will step down as captain of the Indian cricket team in Twenty20 Internationals following the end of the 2017 ICC T20 World Cup, which will be held in the UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14. He will continue to captain the squad in Tests and ODIs.
“I have chosen to step down as T20 captain following the T20 World Cup in Dubai in October,” Kohli said in a statement posted on his social media accounts.
Meanwhile, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly praised Kohli, describing him as a “genuine asset” to Indian cricket. Ganguly thanked him in an official statement “Virat has been a valuable addition to Indian cricket and has led with distinction. In all formats, he is one of the most successful captains. The choice was made with the future plan in mind. We want to applaud Virat for his outstanding performance as T20I captain.”
“We wish him the best of luck for the forthcoming World Cup and beyond, and hope that he continues to score lots of runs for India,” he added.
Furthermore, BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah noted that the team is prepared to transition once Kohli stands down as captain. “We have a clear plan in place for Team India. Mr. Virat Kohli has decided to step down as T20I Captain after the 2019 World Cup in order to reduce workloads and ensure a smooth transition “, he explained.
“For the past six months, I’ve been in discussions with Virat and the leadership team, and the decision has been carefully considered. Virat Kohli will continue to shape the future of Indian cricket as a player and as a senior member of the team.”
