'No one asked me to stay as T20I captain': Virat Kohli shuts rumours in a fiery press conference

Ahead of the team's departure for the South Africa tour, India skipper Virat Kohli held a press conference where he spoke about various news and rumours circulating in the media. This was Kohli's first interaction with the media after he was sacked as ODI captain.

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There were rumours that Virat Kohli has asked BCCI to give him a layoff from the South Africa ODIs as he wants to celebrate his daughter's first birthday. However, many speculated that Kohli don't want to play ODIs under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. Kohli though denied asking for any such break and said he will be available for the ODIs.

“I am available. Do not ask me these questions. Ask those writing these things. I am always available. Few things came out in the past as well which were also not true. People writing these, their sources are not credible."

The Test skipper also denied claims made by the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly that the board requested Virat Kohli to stay as T20I captain. Kohli revealed he was very clear of his decision of leaving T20I captaincy which he conveyed to the BCCI, adding that no such request was made to him. Notably, BCCI sacked Kohli as ODI captain saying that having two different skippers in white balls formats was not the right way to go. Ganguly also claimed that he personally requested Kohli to not step down as T20I captain. "I was contacted one and a half hour before selection for Tests. The chief selector discussed with me the Test. Before the call ended I was told that the 5 selectors have decided that I won't be ODI captain anymore. There was no prior communication about this," Kohli said in the press conference.

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He also clarified that there is no differences between him and Rohit Sharma. Rumours of rift between him and Rohit Sharma has been doing rounds for a while. However, Kohli denied those rumours. "Nothing between me and Rohit. I've been saying this for 2.5 years and I'm, tired. Whatever I'll do will never be to take the team downwards. There is no issue between Rohit and me."