Not surprised at all: Former India cricketers react to Kohli’s resignation as India Test captain

Virat Kohli’s decision to quit the captaincy of the Indian Test side was not an easy one and there was always going to be reading between the line by former cricketers. It did happen. While some said that they saw it coming, for others it was a complete shocker. 

Former India captain and part of the commentary panel in the recently concluded test series between South Africa and India, Sunil Gavaskar said that he always saw that coming once India lost the series. 

"I'm not surprised at all. I thought that it might have come at the presentation ceremony, but that would have looked like it has come out of a sense of anger having lost the series. So, I think a little bit of gap and the decision has come, “ he said on India Today. 

"Looking at the fact that he had been removed as ODI captain. Yes, having lost this series, that was always possible. If you don't win, what happens? Doesn't matter if he's been individually successful, in a team sport, the captain is the one where the buck stops,” added the legend of the game. 

Kiran More, former India wicketkeeper and a BCCI selector, said that the way things panned out with Kohli in the last three months, shouldn’t have. 

“The way he has left is a bit sad. The way people have treated him, and I am not talking of the BCCI, and criticised him was not fair. Let’s not forget he is a World Cup winner (2011). He has got 70 international hundreds and is a special player. 

I am disappointed with the way people were talking about him and the way his captaincy was criticised. For me, he is a legend. Performance-wise, we cannot touch him,” said More in a chat with News18. 

Madan Lal, a World Cup-winning former cricketer and also a former member of the selection committee was not impressed with the decision that Kohli took. “What next? He’ll keep on playing for the country and keep on performing. The game is all about performance, nothing else. You have to keep on performing and keep on playing. At the end of the day, it is the performance that counts,” said Lal. 

“Kohli has done a very good job as a captain. I wanted to see him as Test captain for one or two years. I like his aggressive nature. People talk about Indians not being aggressive and here we have had a captain who’s aggressive, who wanted to win everything,” he added further.