'We will deal with it appropriately': Sourav Ganguly on Virat Kohli’s fiery presser

Kolkata: A day after Virat Kohli virtually contradicted him on the developments in the run-up to the BCCI naming a new One Day International captain, its president Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said the board would “deal with it appropriately’.

Ganguly, however, despite persistent queries from reporters, refused to join issue with Kohli, who has been replaced by Rohit Sharma as Team India ODI skipper.

“I have no comments. We will deal with it appropriately. I have no comments,’” Ganguly said, dodging a volley of questions here.

Ganguly said the BCCI would neither issue a statement nor hold a press conference in the backdrop of Kohli claiming in Mumbai during India’s pre-departure media meet for the South Africa tour that he learned of his removal as India’s ODI skipper from the national selectors who had called him merely one and a half hours before the board announced the Test squad for the South Africa series.

“As I said I have nothing to say. BCCI will deal with it appropriately. No statements... no press conference,” said the BCCI chief.

Ganguly earlier claimed that both he and the selection panel chairman Chetan Sharma had spoken to Kohli about the decision to name Rohit Sharma as the new ODI captain.

Ganguly also evaded a question as to whether Kohli’s comments had embarrassed the team and Indian cricket.

“As I said, we will deal with it. Leave it to BCCI,” said Ganguly.

Kohli also denied that he was asked by the board not to quit the T20I captaincy.

“When I told BCCI that I want to give up T20I captaincy, it was accepted really well. There was no hesitancy. I was told that it was a progressive step. I informed at that time that I would like to lead in ODIs and Tests. The communication from my side was clear but I had also informed that if the office bearers and selectors don't think I should lead in other formats, then that is fine," Kohli said.

This also ran contradictory to Ganguly’s earlier remarks that the BCCI had asked Kohli not to step down from the T20I captaincy. (UNI)