BCCI mulls split captaincy as reports rife on Kohli-Rohit rift

India’s ouster in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup has sparked a lot of talks about areas where the team lacked and also how it was too reliant on the duo of skipper Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma when it came to scoring runs.

While this has been an area that is also highlighted from the scoring charts of the World Cup, another factor that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is also keen to discuss is the idea of split captaincy.

However, as per a board functionary, the biggest concern of the board that has come up post the exit is the talks of different camps and rumours of a rift between Kohli and Rohit.

That could be detrimental for Indian cricket as the team looks to move forward and the matter is set to be discussed when the review meeting takes place with coach Ravi Shastri, captain Kohli and chief selector MSK Prasad in the presence of the Committee of Administrators (CoA).

“You are aware that Vinod Rai (CoA chief) has already mentioned that a review meeting will take place. This will have to be ascertained when the review takes place and it is important to get to the bottom of these rumours,” the functionary added.

While Rai has claimed that a review meeting will take place to assess the performance of the team, there are clearly more problem areas that need immediate attention.

Interestingly, the last time there was a meeting where the CoA members had met the senior players and coach -- during the Test against West Indies in Hyderabad last year -- Kohli and Rohit’s difference of thought was visible when it came to resting players in the IPL keeping the World Cup in mind.

The board functionary is also reported to have said that good teams start preparations immediately after one campaign ends and the biggest result of that is England winning the World Cup on Sunday.

So, keeping an eye on the next campaign, India too could look at the option of having Rohit lead the team in the shorter formats  while Kohli continues in Tests.

“This would be the right time for Rohit to take over the mantle of the captaincy in the 50-over format. There has been immense support to the present captain and the management and it is time to plan ahead for the next World Cup and for that the existing ideas and plans need a fresh look. We all know some areas need a relook. Rohit would be the right man for the job,” the functionary said.

Former India Test opener and stalwart of domestic cricket, Wasim Jaffer had earlier raised a valid point about the Indian captaincy in the limited-overs format. Jaffer feels that the time is right to hand over the white-ball captaincy to Rohit and let Kohli take the reins in Test cricket, a format where he has kept the Indian team at the pinnacle of ICC rankings for a long time now. Jaffer also mentioned that he would have Rohit leading India in 2023 World Cup, to be played in India.

Jaffer had then tweeted, “Is it time to hand over white ball captaincy to Rohit Sharma? I would like him to lead India in 2023 World Cup????”

Jaffer’s argument was based on Rohit having proved himself to be a capable leader who doesn’t get flustered when things don’t go the team’s way in a match.

Moreover, Jaffer agreed with the common perception that Kohli is known to show his pleasure and displeasure at crunch moments on the field, something that may not be good for the fielders.

Also, proving himself in IPL as well, Rohit had won four titles for Mumbai Indians as captain since 2013. Given that Kohli keeps taking breaks from international cricket regularly to relieve himself from some pressure, Jaffer feels it’s better to let him be the best batsman in the team than to burden him with the captaincy as well and instead to let Rohit take all that pressure as he has shown that he scores runs as well when he is captain.

Indo-Asian News Service