<p>A year was about to end and another one set to begin but some things never change in Indian cricket, especially controversies and contradictions. Out of the blue on New Year’s Eve, the BCCI sent out on an invite for a selection committee chairman press conference, and considering it was the first official one from the Board after Virat Kohli’s axing as the ODI skipper, it was bound to be spicy. And it did so.</p>.<p>Chetan Sharma, speaking after announcing an 18-member squad for the three-match ODI series in South Africa, was bombarded with questions on Kohli’s controversial removal as ODI skipper and the unsavoury saga that followed. While Board president Sourav Ganguly said Kohli was asked to reconsider his decision to step down at T20 skipper, the latter proclaimed that he was never asked to do so and was told of his removal as ODI skipper just 90 minutes before the selection meeting to pick the Test side for the South Africa series. </p>.<p>More contradictions followed on Friday night when Sharma backed Ganguly’s assertions and apportioned the blame on Kohli for the fiasco. “When the meeting (T20 World Cup team selection) started, it was a surprise for everybody. With the World Cup in front of you when you get to hear this news, what will be everyone’s reaction? Everyone present at the meeting told him to think over his decision. We can talk about it later, after the World Cup, all selectors felt at that time it will affect the World Cup, and it was told to Kohli for the sake of Indian cricket, please continue as the captain.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read |<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/internal-conversation-about-captaincy-not-for-media-says-dravid-ahead-of-test-with-south-africa-1064642.html" target="_blank"> Internal conversation about captaincy not for media, says Dravid ahead of test with South Africa</a></strong></p>.<p>“The convenor (Board secretary Jay Shah) was there, the Board officials who were there, everyone has told him. Who will not tell him? Everyone was in a shock, it was a matter of the World Cup. We thought we can discuss it after the World Cup. We never wanted it to affect the team. But he has his plans, we respect it. He is our pride, if someone has taken the decision, but at that time everyone told him to think about it.”</p>.<p>Sharma also defended the decision to inform Kohli about his removal as ODI skipper just ’90 minutes’ before the meeting to pick the Test team for the South Africa series. “Obviously once he quits T20 captaincy selectors have to think, and all five selectors felt white-ball there should be one captain. It will be easy for the selectors to plan things, we did inform him regarding this. The decision for the 50-over format was selectors’ and T20 was his decision.</p>.<p>“About Kohli saying that he was informed 90 minutes before the selection meeting (of the Test team), it was because we wanted everyone to concentrate on the game. Middle of the series you can’t just call somebody up and say that you are not the captain. That’s why we gave time to Kohli and (Rohit) Sharma too, that they can get into the system. Main thing is communication, selectors and the Board officials have brilliant communication. We can only inform the players once the selectors have decided in their meeting. Immediately we informed the captain.”</p>.<p>Chetan and the Board are saying one thing, Kohli the opposite. The rift can’t be more obvious.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>A year was about to end and another one set to begin but some things never change in Indian cricket, especially controversies and contradictions. Out of the blue on New Year’s Eve, the BCCI sent out on an invite for a selection committee chairman press conference, and considering it was the first official one from the Board after Virat Kohli’s axing as the ODI skipper, it was bound to be spicy. And it did so.</p>.<p>Chetan Sharma, speaking after announcing an 18-member squad for the three-match ODI series in South Africa, was bombarded with questions on Kohli’s controversial removal as ODI skipper and the unsavoury saga that followed. While Board president Sourav Ganguly said Kohli was asked to reconsider his decision to step down at T20 skipper, the latter proclaimed that he was never asked to do so and was told of his removal as ODI skipper just 90 minutes before the selection meeting to pick the Test side for the South Africa series. </p>.<p>More contradictions followed on Friday night when Sharma backed Ganguly’s assertions and apportioned the blame on Kohli for the fiasco. “When the meeting (T20 World Cup team selection) started, it was a surprise for everybody. With the World Cup in front of you when you get to hear this news, what will be everyone’s reaction? Everyone present at the meeting told him to think over his decision. We can talk about it later, after the World Cup, all selectors felt at that time it will affect the World Cup, and it was told to Kohli for the sake of Indian cricket, please continue as the captain.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read |<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/internal-conversation-about-captaincy-not-for-media-says-dravid-ahead-of-test-with-south-africa-1064642.html" target="_blank"> Internal conversation about captaincy not for media, says Dravid ahead of test with South Africa</a></strong></p>.<p>“The convenor (Board secretary Jay Shah) was there, the Board officials who were there, everyone has told him. Who will not tell him? Everyone was in a shock, it was a matter of the World Cup. We thought we can discuss it after the World Cup. We never wanted it to affect the team. But he has his plans, we respect it. He is our pride, if someone has taken the decision, but at that time everyone told him to think about it.”</p>.<p>Sharma also defended the decision to inform Kohli about his removal as ODI skipper just ’90 minutes’ before the meeting to pick the Test team for the South Africa series. “Obviously once he quits T20 captaincy selectors have to think, and all five selectors felt white-ball there should be one captain. It will be easy for the selectors to plan things, we did inform him regarding this. The decision for the 50-over format was selectors’ and T20 was his decision.</p>.<p>“About Kohli saying that he was informed 90 minutes before the selection meeting (of the Test team), it was because we wanted everyone to concentrate on the game. Middle of the series you can’t just call somebody up and say that you are not the captain. That’s why we gave time to Kohli and (Rohit) Sharma too, that they can get into the system. Main thing is communication, selectors and the Board officials have brilliant communication. We can only inform the players once the selectors have decided in their meeting. Immediately we informed the captain.”</p>.<p>Chetan and the Board are saying one thing, Kohli the opposite. The rift can’t be more obvious.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>