Kohli backed to continue as India captain in all three formats

NEW DELHI - Virat Kohli will continue to captain

India in all three formats, a top national cricket board official said
Tuesday, after speculation that the batting great could be replaced as
skipper for limited-overs games.

   Kohli's recent sketchy form with the bat has led to reports that changes
could be made after the T20 World Cup, which begins next month in the United
Arab Emirates.

   But Kohli received a vote of confidence from Board of Control for Cricket
in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah.

   "There is no such proposal (to replace Kohli) and the team is led by Virat
and we are backing him," said Shah.

   "We are sensitive to the fact that such a proposal is not in the interest
of Indian team when it will take part in a World Cup," Shah told website
Cricbuzz.

   Indian media have reported that opening batsman Rohit Sharma could take
over as Twenty20 and 50-over captain and that the change had been discussed
by the BCCI.

   "As long as a team is performing, the question of change in captaincy
doesn't arise," Shah was reported as saying by the Indian Express newspaper.

   Kohli led India to a landmark Test series win in Australia in January and
they were leading 2-1 in England when the fifth and final Test was
controversially cancelled last week because of a coronavirus outbreak in the
tourists' camp.

   India have not lost a Twenty20 series under Kohli, but they have failed to
win either the 50-over Champions Trophy, World Cup or T20 World Cup since he
became white ball captain in 2017.

   Shah also confirmed that India have offered to play two extra T20 matches
in England next July in place of the cancelled Test.

   The England board suffered huge financial losses from the refusal of
Indian players to take part because of coronavirus fears.

   "Instead of three T20Is, we will play five T20Is. Alternately, we will be
willing to play a one-off Test as well. It is up to them to choose either of
the offers," said Shah.

   India pulled out of the final Test at Old Trafford last week after head
coach Ravi Shastri and other support staff contracted the virus and had to be
isolated.

   BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said Monday that India are willing to reschedule the final Test as part of next year's series.BSS/AFP