Kapil Dev on Virat-Rohit Rift Reports & Virat’s Coach Preference
Kapil Dev leads the Cricket Advisory Committee that’s in-charge of picking the India men’s cricket team’s next coach
The legendary Kapil Dev, head of the three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) that will appoint the next head coach agreed with his colleague Shantha Rangaswamy that skipper Virat Kohli's opinion "needs to be respected".
The World Cup winning former skipper however assured that his panel will do their job to the best of their ability.
Kohli during his pre-departure press conference didn't hide that he would love to see current head coach Ravi Shastri get another term.
"That's his (Kohli) opinion we have to respect everybody's opinion," Kapil told reporters in Kolkata.
Before leaving for the West Indies tour, the Indian skipper has made it clear that he shares a great camaraderie with incumbent coach Ravi Shastri as he backed him to continue till the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup.
There are also reports of an alleged rift between Kohli and Sharma post India's World Cup semifinal exit though the Indian captain rubbished them ahead of the team's departure to the United States on Monday.
To this, the former World Cup-winning captain said Virat and his deputy can have "differences off the field" but it should not matter as long as their on-field commitment is up to the mark.
"There can be off the field differences but it depends how you play on the field. Everyone should look into that," Kapil said.
"Off the field, the way of thinking can be different, approach can be different. But when you're playing there's only one aim -- how we can win a match. That is important. Differences of opinion does not mean you will be pulling somebody down," Kapil, whose hot and cold relationship with Sunil Gavaskar used to be headlined during the early and mid 80's.
He also took a dig at the media urging them to be more responsible while reporting.
"You have to do your job, right. Thoda bahut toh aap bhi help karte ho naa rumour banane mein. (You people also do your bit in spreading rumours)," he added.
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