Langer, who is now part of the commentary panel, did not hold back as he criticized the BCCI’s decision-makers for removing Kohli as the captain in the One Day International (ODI) format, calling it a grave injustice towards the star cricketer.
Langer’s Outspoken Views
During his commentary stint on Day 1 of the WTC Final, Langer took the opportunity to share his thoughts on the events that unfolded, which revolved around Virat Kohli, former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, and ex-chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma. The former Australian head coach did not mince his words as he slammed the BCCI for their actions.
Kohli’s Stellar Leadership
Langer began by expressing his admiration for Virat Kohli, praising his aggression, passion, and extraordinary batting skills. According to Langer, Kohli was an exceptional captain, leaving nothing to be desired. It is evident that Langer holds the Delhi-born cricketer in high regard.
BCCI’s Unjust Decision
Langer did not shy away from criticizing the BCCI’s decision to remove Kohli as the ODI captain, considering it a significant injustice towards the player. He voiced his opinion in the commentary box, stating that Kohli should have been allowed to continue as the ODI captain out of respect for his contributions to the team.
To understand the context, it is essential to review the sequence of events that led to Kohli’s captaincy being stripped away. Prior to the 2021 T20 World Cup, Kohli announced his decision to step down as the captain of the T20I format while intending to retain the ODI captaincy.
However, a few months later, the BCCI made the shocking move to remove Kohli as the captain in all formats, citing the desire for a single captain for both ODIs and T20Is. This decision resulted in Rohit Sharma taking over the captaincy reins.
Stepping Down as Test Captain
The unfortunate turn of events did not end there. Following the conclusion of the South Africa tour in January 2022, Virat Kohli took the difficult decision to step down as the Test captain as well, marking the end of his captaincy journey across all formats.
Justin Langer’s outspoken views on the captaincy saga between Virat Kohli and the BCCI have added fuel to the already fervent discussions surrounding the decision. While Kohli’s contributions as a leader were highly regarded, the BCCI’s stance on having a single captain for ODIs and T20Is led to his removal.
The cricketing world continues to debate the merits of this decision, highlighting the ongoing fascination with the ever-evolving dynamics of captaincy in international cricket.