Controversy surrounded last week’s match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals when it seemed like RCB batsman Virat Kohli and DC’s director of cricket Sourav Ganguly were at odds with one another. They didn’t shake hands after RCB’s lopsided win, and the next day it was claimed that Kohli had stopped following the ex-Indian captain on Instagram. As if that weren’t enough, it seemed that Ganguly had returned the favour on the same social networking site within a week.
The apparent divide between two of Indian cricket’s stalwarts dates back to when Kohli was captaining the team under Ganguly’s presidency of the BCCI. Seemingly not sitting well with Ganguly and then-chief selector Chetan Sharma, the 34-year-old Indian batter’s decision to step down as Team India captain led to Kohli’s removal as ODI captain and less than a month later, the batter also stepped down from the leadership role in the longest format of the game.
What did Shane Watson say about Virat Kohli?
Amidst the rumours of a schism, former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson, who is presently part of the Delhi Capitals team management as an assistant coach, was asked to elaborate on the situation between the two on ‘The Grade Cricketer’ podcast. Watson, who would not elaborate, did say that Kohli seemed to have “fire in his belly.”
“It could be rumour-mongering, but I’m not sure. So, it’s not something I want to get involved in,” Watson said before bursting into laughter, as he was asked about Kohli and Ganguly.
“But there was definitely some fire in Virat’s belly, that’s for sure. From an opposition point of view, that’s the last thing you need as well. Virat, when he’s like that, that’s when he’s at his absolute best. Whatever reason that was, I’m not exactly sure,” Watson further said.
Since Roger Binny took over for Ganguly as BCCI President in October of last year, the former India captain was free to rejoin the Delhi Capitals’ management staff in time for the 2023 IPL season. While Rohit Sharma and Kohli haven’t played in a Twenty20 International since last year’s World Cup, they are still vital members of the Indian squad in One-Day Internationals and Tests.
