Virat Kohli confirms he will step down as India’s T20I captain after T20 World Cup in UAE

In an unexpected move, Virat Kohli has decided to step down as India’s T20I captain. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in UAE, later this year.

In a long Instagram post, the 32-year-old said that he will continue as a batsman while Rohit Sharma will be appointed as captain of the team. Kohli said that he now wants to focus on his batting while adding that he took the decision after consulting head coach Ravi Shastri and his teammates, including Rohit Sharma. He said that he also consulted Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) president and secretary Jay Shah.

"I have been fortunate enough to not only represent India but also lead the Indian Cricket Team to my utmost capability. I thank everyone who has supported me in journey as the Captain of the Indian Cricket Team. I couldn't have done it without them - the boys, the support staff, the selection committee, my coaches and each and every Indian who prayed for us to win," Kohli said.

"Understanding workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats and captaining regularly for last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian Team in Test and ODI cricket. I have given everything to the Team during my time as T20 Captain and I will continue to do so for the T20 Team as batsman moving forward," Kohli added.

While some of the fans are appreciating Kohli’s decision, many others are heartbroken to see India’s most successful captain stepping away.

Virat Kohli has led India in 45 T20I internationals since taking over from MS Dhoni in 2017. He has a winning percentage of 64.44 with 29 victories and 14 defeats.