Kohli: Will give opinion on coach only if BCCI asks

NORTH SOUND: With the Indian cricket board’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) deciding on the new coach, skipper Virat Kohli has made it clear he and the rest of the team will give suggestions only when they are asked and would not like to go beyond the brief. The India skipper was asked on Thursday about the kind of coach he would prefer. However, Virat Kohli left the delivery alone, saying the onus is on the Indian board to make a choice. “Contrary to popular perception, we as a team only voice our opinions when asked by the BCCI to give suggestions, so that is something we’ve always done, going through it as a process.

“That’s something we respect as a team. It is not like segregation of anything. We respect that process and procedure and if and when it takes place then we’ll give our suggestions to the BCCI,” said the India skipper ahead of the third ODI here.

Former India skipper Anil Kumble step down as coach after the ICC Champions Trophy, saying his relationship with Virat Kohli had become ‘untenable’.

Asked if the team or he has been kept in the loop and whether they’d prefer to be kept in the loop, the India skipper said, “Right now we have a series at hand and this is what we are focused on right now. The process has always been in place. We as a team are focusing on this series right now and are not focused on anything else. We are focused on coming here and winning this series and preparing for the game that lies ahead of us,” he said.

The India team players have been guarded while expressing their preferences. On Wednesday, Shikhar Dhawan was asked about their preference. He said pretty much the same although he added that he doesn’t really care much about who becomes the coach.

“I am always flexible, I always enjoy it and I always keep my focus… Everyone has a different character. If you talk about Dhoni bhai and Virat, they are two different characters as well. But they’ve done well for the nation. Ravi bhai has a different aura than Anil bhai, so everyone has their own individuality.”

Contrary to popular perception, we as a team only voice our opinions when asked by the BCCI to give suggestions, so that is something we’ve always done, going through it as a process. VIRAT KOHLI, India skipper