Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has rejected the speculation surrounding Virat Kohli’s return as Test team skipper, dampening the hopes of Indian cricket fans. Following India’s disappointing performance in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final, fans on social media expressed their desire for either Ravichandran Ashwin or Kohli to replace Rohit Sharma as captain in the longest format of the game. However, Chopra believes that it is unlikely for Kohli to reclaim the captaincy after he voluntarily stepped down from the role.

During a discussion on his YouTube channel, Chopra emphasized, “He can be made [captain] but he won’t be, and maybe that’s the right thing as well because no one asked him to leave Test captaincy.” The former Indian Test opener clarified that multiple sources have confirmed that there was never a decision made to remove Kohli as the Test captain. Follow your favourite cricket team with attractive betting odds from Gclub.

Kohli relinquished the Test captaincy following India’s Test series loss to South Africa in 2022. As captain, Kohli had achieved remarkable success, leading the team to victory in 40 out of 68 Tests. However, his decision to step down appeared to strain his relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“In fact, when he took this decision that he won’t remain the captain, the BCCI was taken aback slightly, wondering what had happened and that they would need to search for a new captain,” explained Chopra. However, he clarified that the situation has changed, and Kohli’s return as captain seems highly unlikely.

The discussions surrounding the Test captaincy have emerged in response to India’s defeat in the WTC 2023 final against Australia, with Pat Cummins leading his side to a 209-run victory. As the focus now shifts to the future, Rohit Sharma will lead the team in whites during the upcoming West Indies tour. It remains to be seen how the captaincy situation unfolds in the coming months.

The hopes of Indian cricket fans for Kohli’s return as Test team skipper have been quashed by Aakash Chopra’s statements. While Kohli’s legacy as a successful Test captain remains, his decision to step down and the subsequent developments with the BCCI have seemingly closed the door on his captaincy prospects. As India prepares for future Test matches, Rohit Sharma will take charge, and cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the team’s performance under his leadership in the West Indies tour. Get the latest updates from the world of cricket only on Gclub Sports.