Virat Kohli's T20 captaincy resignation "received well" despite Sourav Ganguly claims

Ganguly, the BCCI president, has previously suggested that Kohli was asked to reconsider his decision

Virat Kohli has said his resignation as India's T20 captain was "received well", despite BCCI president Sourav Ganguly previously stating that Kohli had been asked to reconsider his decision.

He announced his intention to step down as India's skipper in the shortest format prior to the T20 World Cup, in which India ultimately failed to progress from the group stage.

He has since been replaced in the role by Rohit Sharma, Kohli's new Test vice-captain, who has also taken on the ODI captaincy to become India’s leader across both white-ball formats.

"When I decided to leave the T20I captaincy and approached the BCCI about my decision, it was received well," Kohli told a press conference ahead of the upcoming Test series against South Africa. "There was no offence or hesitation, I wasn't told to reconsider it. It was received well."

Last week, however, Ganguly explained that the BCCI "had requested Virat not to step down as T20 captain". Once Kohli had made his decision, it was decided to remove him as 50-over captain as well. Ganguly told PTI: "The selectors felt that they cannot have two white-ball captains in two white-ball formats. That's too much of leadership."

^{Rohit Sharma took the reins in India's T20I series against New Zealand (Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)}

Speaking ahead of the South Africa series, Kohli confirmed that he was only made aware of the decision to replace him as India's ODI captain 90 minutes before chief selector Chetan Sharma led a selection meeting for the Tests in South Africa.

"There was no prior communication to me at all from when I announced the T20I captaincy decision until December 8," he said, "when I got a call before the selection meeting. The chief selector discussed with me the Test team to which we both agreed, and before ending the call I was told the five selectors have decided I will not be the ODI captain, to which I replied: 'Okay, fine.'"

Kohli's record as India's leader in 50-over cricket was bettered only by Clive Lloyd, Ricky Ponting and Hansie Cronje, winning 65 of 95 matches in charge. With the bat, he averaged 72.65 as captain.

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