Pujara and Rahane spoke to BCCI secretary Jay Shah about Virat Kohli’s captaincy

India’s senior cricketers Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara had reportedly called BCCI secretary Jay Shah to discuss Virat Kohli’s captaincy following the loss to New Zealand in the World Test Championship final. 

Rahane and Pujara reportedly had reservations about the captaincy of Kohli following the game, as per a report by New Indian Express. 

“While the team took a two-week break after the WTC final, it is reliably learned that the two batsmen dialed the secretary personally, following which the BCCI seems to have stepped in,” said the report. 

Another report had stated that Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was unhappy at not being picked for any of the Test matches in England. Coach Ravi Shastri was reportedly keen on seeing Ashwin play in the Test matches, but Kohli felt differently. 

The New Indian Express report further stated that Kohli’s stint as ODI captain is under the scanner and BCCI will decide following the T20 World Cup, which will take place in October and November. 

“It is understood that only after these phone calls did the BCCI seek feedback from a few other players and decided to act at the end of the tour. While Kohli attributed workload management as a reason to step aside as T20 captain, it is learned that the BCCI will now decide on his 50-over captaincy after the end of the World Cup,” the report stated.

Kohli wasn’t happy with his batsmen in the World Test Championship final earlier this year and told his teammates to find a way to score runs rather than saving their wicket. The Indian captain is rumored to have had a word with both Rahane and Pujara after the final. 

India lost the WTC final by 8 wickets to New Zealand, completely outplayed by the Kiwis, with their batting line-up not firing at all. The Indians did a little better in the Test series against England, winning two, losing one, while they drew the first Test. Kohli’s side was unfortunate to have not won the first Test as rain played spoilsport, leading to a draw. 

The fifth Test of the series was postponed as the Indian side pulled out of the match following a string of COVID positive cases among the Indian backroom staff. The final Test of the series will be played sometime next year, most likely when the Indians travel to England to play three ODIs and three T20s in July.