Virat Kohli’s tenure as India’s limited-overs captain ends with out main ICC title, Rohit Sharma eyes huge prize
When Virat Kohli stepped down as India’s T20I captain forward of the T20 World Cup in October-November, questions have been requested of his ODI captaincy future. The star batter, who has been probably the most influential figures in Indian cricket through the years, mentioned in his assertion that he would proceed to guide India in ODIs and Tests.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, Sourav Ganguly quashed all rumours after Kohli’s determination to step down as T20I captain, telling India Today that the choice was private and the board’s prime brass didn’t have any function in it.”Understanding workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats and captaining regularly for the last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team in Test and ODI cricket,” Kohli had mentioned earlier than the T20 World Cup.Cut to December 2021, Virat Kohli was changed as India’s ODI captain as Rohit Sharma is all set to take over because the full-time captain of the group in white-ball cricket. The BCCI made the announcement with a line on the finish of their launch wherein it named an 18-man squad for India’s Test sequence in South Africa, beginning December 26.Virat Kohli will proceed to guide India in Tests however his tenure as India’s white-ball captain is over. Rohit Sharma, who led India to a 3-0 win over New Zealand in a recently-concluded T20I sequence at dwelling, was additionally appointed because the vice-captain in Tests as Ajinkya Rahane misplaced the job amid a continued dip in type.Quite a bit was anticipated of Virat Kohli in his ultimate stint as T20I captain as India headed to the T20 World Cup within the UAE as one of many favourites. The BCCI additionally roped in former captain MS Dhoni because the group’s mentor however Kohli’s males have been knocked out within the group phases of an ICC occasion for the primary time in 2012 as Kohli’s T20I captaincy tenure resulted in disappointment.There isn’t any doubting Kohli’s document as ODI captain however India’s incapacity to win a significant ICC title within the final 4 years has been seen as a trigger for concern.In reality, Kohli has the very best common (72.65) for ODI captains (lead in a minimal of 75 matches) within the historical past of the game with 5449 runs and 21 a whole lot. AB de Villiers has the subsequent finest common — 63.94 in 103 matches.Only 3 captains — Clive Lloyd, Ricky Ponting and Hansie Cronje have a greater win share than Kohli.Rohit Sharma takes over as India’s full-time white-ball captain forward of a busy 18-month interval wherein India will play 2 main white-ball tournaments – the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2021 and the 50-over World Cup at dwelling.VIRAT KOHLI’S NUMBERS AS CAPTAIN IN ODIsMatches as captainPlayedWonLostOverall956527At Home352410Away422911–SERIES AS CAPTAINPLAYEDWONLOSTOVERALL19154AT HOME981–VIRAT KOHLI’S RECORD IN MAJOR MULTI-NATION TOURNAMENTSAsia Cup 2013-14: Failed to succeed in ultimateChampions Trophy 2017 – Lost within the ultimate.World Cup 2019 – Lost within the semi-finalTHE MAKING OF KOHLI, WHITE-BALL CAPTAINWhen Virat Kohli took over as India’s full-time white-ball captain from MS Dhoni in 2017, quite a bit was anticipated of him as he had confirmed his mettle as a Test captain. It was no shock again then as Kohli was anticipated to be Dhoni’s successor after having led India earlier than 2017 as effectively.Virat Kohli had stuffed in as stand-by captain in ODIs as early as 2013 in a tri-nation sequence involving Sri Lanka and West Indies in West Indies. Kohli led India to victories within the round-robin format earlier than Dhoni returned and led India to the title towards Sri Lanka within the ultimate.However, Kohli’s first main match as captain — the Asia Cup in 2013-14 resulted in disappointment as India have been eradicated within the group stage.Kohli took over as India’s full-time ODI captain in January 2017 towards a visiting England facet in Pune and he tasted instant success, main the facet to a 2-1 victory.INDIA MARCHED ON UNDER KOHLI DESPITE CT 2017 HEARTBREAKHowever, on the Champions Trophy in 2017, Kohli’s males faltered within the ultimate to Pakistan. Following the defeat, Anil Kumble determined to step down as head coach, calling his relationship with the then skipper “untenable”.Kohli had his approach as Ravi Shastri, who had beforehand labored with Kohli as group supervisor, obtained on board as the pinnacle coach. All was effectively as Kohli was getting the appropriate leads to the bilateral ODI sequence, main as much as the World Cup.In reality, Virat Kohli led India to a historic ODI sequence vicory in South Africa in February 2018. Kohli did what no different India captain had completed prior to now by marshalling the group to a historic ODI sequence win within the Rainbow Nation.THE 2019 WORLD CUP DEBACLEIn 10 ODI sequence between the Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup, India gained 8 sequence, shedding solely to England and Australia away from dwelling. The numbers favoured Kohli and India headed into the World Cup in England as one of many pre-tournament favourites.India lived as much as the highest billing on the 2019 World Cup, topping the league phases, profitable 7 of their 9 matches. However, they have been outclassed within the semi-final as acquainted issues returned to hang-out the Asian giants.Following the exit, questions have been requested of the group administration’s incapacity to type out the No. 4 subject in ODI cricket that proved expensive on the showpiece occasion. India, underneath Kohli, tried a number of huge names, together with Yuvraj Singh and Ambati Rayudu, on the essential spot however they struggled to discover a participant who may seal the spot.ROHIT ELEVATION IN THE MAKINGNonetheless, Kohli continued as ODI captain regardless of the World Cup exit however the strain was mounting on the star batter as he suffered a dip in type with the bat after the day-night Test in 2019. Kohli’s hundred drought has prolonged past 2 years in worldwide cricket and below-par leads to the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bangalore meant his future as a limited-overs India skipper was in query.The T20 World Cup in 2021 was seen as make-or-break for Kohli’s captaincy tenure at the same time as Rohit Sharma was evolving as one of many most interesting white-ball captains, profitable 5 IPL titles and white-ball tournaments like Nidahas Trophy and the Asia Cup with India in 2018.The transition was imminent as India had an odd marketing campaign on the T20 World Cup with a couple of former cricketers calling it as considered one of their poorest ever exhibits at an ICC occasion.With the 2023 World Cup set to be held a few months after the T20 World Cup in 2021, Rohit Sharma could have an prolonged run at white-ball captaincy. The Mumbai Indians skipper cast a profitable mixture with head coach Rahul Dravid within the T20 sequence towards New Zealand.The focus will now be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has to take a backseat.With the burden of white-ball captaincy off his shoulders, Kohli can be eager on returning to peak with the bat. Will we get to see the return of the person who was hitting a whole lot for enjoyable in worldwide cricket?
