BCCI Committee of Administrators (COA) chief Vinod Rai, on Friday, backed under-fire Virat Kohli, saying there is nothing wrong in giving the India skipper a free hand in selection matters.
Kohli was criticised for his bold selection decisions in the ongoing Test series against South Africa with former batsman Virender Sehwag saying there is no one in the dressing room to point out Kohli’s mistakes.
However, Rai said that there’s nothing wrong in giving Kohli a “free hand“. “He has motivated the players. He’s very aggressive and systematic on the field. He’s doing an excellent job. A captain should be given a free hand in the matter (of team selection). You can’t have a captain being controlled from outside. I think he’s given a total free hand and he’s been able to mould an excellent team,” Rai said.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is pushing for an Olympic return of the sport, probably with the T20 version, in the 2024 edition. However, the ICC’s hopes hinge on India as without the BCCI’s approval, the cricket’s international body can’t dare to make the bid.
Rai said: “It’s still under consideration. We will see. It depends a lot on the cricket loving population of the country. What’s the kind of cricket they want. It will take place slowly.”
On the upcoming IPL, he said Lodha Committee is trying its best to maintain the sanctity of the sport as there’s an “emotional connect”. “The number of people who follow the sport passionately are Indians all over the place. We would very much like to ensure their interest and trust and the way forward for them is preserved for this country.”
He said it would like to nurture the team in a way that it delivers in the 2019 World Cup. “The fact the best in the world today is nurtured cherished and provided for so that they can actually be able to deliver the World Cup for the country,” he concluded.
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