The BCCI has sacked Virat Kohli as India’s ODI captain and has reinstated Rohit Sharma in his place. Veteran New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has weighed on the development, saying that it will take a weight off his shoulders.
Kohli relinquished the leadership duties from the shortest format after the ICC T20 World Cup but expressed his desire to continue leading India in the ODIs and Tests. However, the selection committee chaired by Chetan Sharma removed him as captain of the 50-overs format.
Speaking at an event organised by Amazon Prime Video, Tim Southee lavishly praised Virat Kohli’s leadership skills. He said:
“I don’t know what it was like to captain India and the pressures that come with it. Not only that, but IPL as well. He’s done it over a period of time. It will be interesting from a fan point of view to see him put all his energies on captaincy and channel them into his batting and fielding.”
He added:
“I am sure it’s a weight off his shoulders, and the person that he is, he will be contributing in some leadership form or another throughout the rest of his playing days.”
Tim Southee also stressed that having Virat Kohli in the wings will be an added advantage of Rohit Sharma and Team India.
“I am sure it will be great for the new captain of RCB, and Rohit Sharma and Team India, to have someone like Virat to turn to and have a shoulder to lean on out of the field as well,” he said. “You see him as a very passionate guy who loves the game and brings energy for the side. Just how much time he puts in the game. I got to know him away from the game as well (at RCB), sitting over a coffee, drink or dinner and talk and find out about his interests,” Southee added.
“Have set such high standards” – Tim Southee on batsman Virat Kohli
The talismanic run-scorer hasn’t been in the best of form with the bat over the last 2 years. An international century has eluded him for over 24 months now. Tim Southee lauded Virat Kohli for the high standards he has set in world cricket.
“I guess it happens when you bat the way Virat bats and score the volume of runs he gets, you have set such high standards. Then, for some games or however long he has not been as amazing as we are used to seeing,” Southee concluded.
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