Kohli is losing control. He has lost respect and some of the players are not liking his attitude. He is no more an inspirational leader and he doesn’t earn the players’ respect. Some of them have reached their limits when it comes to dealing with him[/caption]
Virat Kohli has “unsettled” his Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team by announcing that he will stand down as Captain at the end of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, former top players have argued.
Kohli made public, just hours before RCB’s first game in the resumed Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday (20), that he will be handing over the team leadership after this year’s IPL.
That came only days after Kohli had announced that he would be giving up as India’s Twenty 20 International (T20I) captain too, after the World Cup of the format, which starts next month.
It makes team unsettled
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir had said Kohli’s timing had surprised him and would not help Bangalore’s quest for a first IPL title.
Yesterday’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the United Arab Emirates will be Kohli’s 200th for RCB.
“If you want to do that, you probably do it after the tournament,” Gambhir said on Star Sports. “Because it makes the team unsettled and emotional as well.”
A record without a title
Former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar also questioned the timing of Kohli’s quitting from RCB leadership.
“I am just curious about both the announcements as to why he had to do it before the tournaments,” Manjrekar told the ESPNcricinfo.
Kohli’s leadership has faced mounting scrutiny in recent months, reported the Times of India on Monday (20).
“His record without a title is often compared to India’s Vice Captain Rohit Sharma, who has secured five IPL crowns for holders Mumbai Indians,” the report noted, adding that Sharma is the frontrunner to succeed Kohli as India’s T20 Captain.
Indo dressing room not cosy
Incidentally, Koli got out for only a four-ball five runs in last night’s IPL game against KKR. Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga too featured in the RCB playing eleven in the game.
Ever since Kohli announced that he will step down as India’s T20I Captain after the upcoming World Cup, several reports have began to surface indicating that things are not being very cosy inside the Indian dressing room.
‘Losing control’
If the recent reports are to be believed, things escalated after India’s World Test Championship (WTC) final loss to New Zealand in England, Cricktracker said on Saturday (18).
“Kohli spoke about ‘lack of intent’ while speaking to media after the match and it seems that didn’t go down well with at least one senior player in the team. Rather it is being reported that at least one senior cricketer in the side communicated to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) Secretary Jay Shah about the same,” the above report confirmed.
“Kohli is losing control. He has lost respect and some of the players are not liking his attitude. He is no more an inspirational leader and he doesn’t earn the players’ respect. Some of them have reached their limits when it comes to dealing with him,” the report said quoting sources.
Aggressive behaviour
This is not the end of it. It is also learnt that Kohli had shot back at one of the coaches in the nets after he suggested a few things about his batting. His lack of form with the bat has also complicated the issue, according to sources.
“Recently, one of the coaches offered some suggestions at the nets but the Captain (Kohli) shot back saying ‘don’t confuse me’. He’s just failed to handle it and it’s showing in his aggressive behaviour,” the sources had further added.
If Kumble to become Head Coach
The oppositional situation against Kohli is expected to further gain ground if the BCCI is to appoint Anil Kumble as new India Head Coach, in place of Ravi Shastri, who is stepping down from the post after the World Cup.
It is common knowledge that Kumble left the same job in 2017 after reporting differences with Kohli, who was the Captain then as well.
Kumble is reportedly the front-runner for the job, for which names such Rahul Dravid, Vangipurapu Venkata Sai (VVS) Laxman, and Mahela Jayawardene had too been dragged in.
RCB stakes good this year
RCB are yet to win an IPL title, but as things stand right now, they are going strong in this year’s tournament. The team is in third place on the table after seven matches before Monday’s game.
Kohli was made Bangalore’s captain in 2013, but despite his superstar status, the team’s best finish was losing in the 2016 final. Kohli insisted his decision had been “well thought (out) and in the best interest of this wonderful franchise”.
From a rookie player, who joined the team for the inaugural edition fresh from the success of the Under-19 World Cup in 2008, to taking over captaincy midway through the 2012 season from Daniel Vettori, the journey with RCB has been a long one for Kohli.