Mumbai: In a sting operation conducted by a news channel, BCCI's Chief Selector Chetan Sharma made shocking revelations on how star Indian batsman Virat Kohli was removed as ODI captain after he stepped down from T20 captaincy.
In one of the videos that has gone viral on social media, Sharma is purportedly seen talking about the infamous episode related to Kohli's stint as India's captain.
Sharma said the BCCI were riled over Virat's conduct as he started to consider himself above the sport. "He was clearly told by the BCCI and selection committee to rethink his decision to quit the T20I captaincy. He was addressing the media ahead of the South Africa tour. He unnecessarily brought up the issue of what transpired in the selection committee. He wanted to take head on with the then BCCI president," he said.
The chief selector said BCCI wanted to oust Virat at the earliest over his conduct and handed the captaincy baton to Rohit Sharma, though he was not the preferred choice.
"We were not favouring Rohit as a captain; we were just against Virat Kohli. The BCCI took advantage of Virat's poor form and removed him from the captaincy. They should not treat the country's number-one batsman like this. Shameful," Sharma said.
He also made explosive revelations about many Indian players taking injections to get fit even when they weren't. Apart from this, Sharma claimed that big stars use the services of their own doctors who administer injections gladly.
"The players are not fit but they take injections to play. They are ready to play even at 80 percent fitness. They take injections and start playing," he said.
"Even if they are around 85 percent fit, they will say 'Sir let us play' but they are not cleared by the medical team that is where the problem lies. The players always want to play, they never refuse to play."
"Bumrah could not even bend so what can he do? 1-2 such major injuries happen. Otherwise even at 80 percent (fitness) they are so naughty that they quietly sneak into a corner and take the injection and say 'Sir we are fit'.
Asked if the injections are pain killers, Sharma said, "It is an injection, not painkiller. We don't even know that they have taken the injection. For pain killers, they need a prescription, it can also come under doping.
"With regards to injection, they know which injections don't come under anti-doping.Asked whether the players took administered injections themselves, Sharma said, "If they can take a cook on tour, they are such big superstars won't they get a doctor? There are 1000s of doctors sitting around, one phone call and they will land at their house."(UNI)
