Why the fetish for Kohli?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has once again shown it is ready to bend backwards to accede to any request from Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli.

As the prime leader of Indian cricket who bombed at the box office recently when his team Royal Challengers Bangalore failed to make it to the title round of the IPL, Kohli came in for flak.

One thought the man occupying one of the most important positions in India, politicians aside, would be ready for the challenge in Australia where India will be playing ODIs, T20s and also a four-Test series.

On Monday, when the BCCI sent a press release stating that Kohli would come to India after the first Test to be with wife Anushka Sharma on paternity leave, it did make a lot of people happy. Especially those who firmly believe child delivery is a joyous moment to be shared by both the parents.

Even as millions wish the star couple, nicknamed “Virushka” all the best for their new arrival in January 2021, professionalism demanded Kohli played the entire Test series or excused himself from it totally.

At a time when there is so much uncertainty on the fitness of key players like Rohit Sharma, fast bowler Ishant Sharma and also Varun Chakravarthy, the BCCI did a rejig of the three squads bound for Australia.

The point is very simple, nobody can object to Kohli wanting to be with his wife at a very important time in his personal life. Yet, the role of a leader demands he puts nation before self. There have been several instance in sport, and cricket as well when players have lost parents or siblings and continued to play.

However, in the case of Kohli and the BCCI, if it was known during October end at the selection committee meeting Kohli wanted to be excused, why was it not made public?  Is the fault that of Kohli or the BCCI mandarins — President Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah – is something cricket fans want to know.

Even as the hype over the IPL ends on Tuesday night, the purists and serious cricket fans are concerned about the tour Down Under where the hosts will be ready to take on the Indians. The Aussies are a tough side and right now very motivated. If their domestic cricket season is anything to go by, players are in serious mode and preparing for the arrival of the Indians.

While nobody can question the commitment and fitness of Kohli ,what is indeed murky is how the BCCI plays games. So, will Ajinkya Rahane be the Test captain or Rohit Sharma. In any case, it  makes sense for one person to be in command for the entire Test series. Hope the BCCI gives it a thought.