India captain Virat Kohli refused to comment on the hunt for the next head coach after Anil Kumble’s resignation, making it clear that he will only air his views only if the BCCI seek it.
“From a personal point of view, I can’t pinpoint anything or give any details. We as a team only voice our opinion when asked by the BCCI,” Kolhi said at the pre-match conference ahead of the third ODI against West Indies in Antigua.
When the same question was repeated in a different manner, Kohli was more curt.
“Suggestions are given to the BCCI,” he said. “There is no point in saying anything out in the open because that is for us as a team to convey to the BCCI as when we are asked.”
Kohli also added that since there is process in place to select the new coach, individual opinion won’t matter. The coach will be selected by the Cricket Advisory Committee headlined by Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
“This is a process we always go through and something we respect as a team,” Kohli added. “It’s something that is asked to the team and not in seggregation. The same procedure, as and when it takes place, we will give our suggestions to the BCCI.”
Kohli’s responses to the persistent questions prompted a journalist to ask whether he has become calmer in handling media as his matured answers suggest. The India captain replied that he has become immune to the “distraction” of media coverage.
“It’s something that you become immune to after a while,” he told reporters. “It is something that happened quite a bit in the last few years. At the end of the day, what matters is you what you do on the field. Whether media covers you or not that doesn’t matter. I think it is a distraction early on in your career but after a while you don’t get distracted by these things.”
He added, “You know it’s going to be there so you just have to focus on what you need to do rather thinking about there is too much attention on me. It is not in my control, it is not something that I have asked for, it’s something that’s happening, so I have to sort of take in my stride and focus on my skills.”
India lead the ODI series 1-0 ahead of the third match on Friday.
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