Mumbai: India ODI and T20 captain Rohit Sharma is 'shocked' by Virat Kohli's decision to step down as captain of the Test team.
In his Instagram post on Sunday, Sharma shared a throwback picture and said: "Shocked!! But congratulations on a successful stint as Indian captain. Aage ke liye bahut bahut shubhkamnaye ( best wishes for the future)"
Kohli had announced that he would give up T20 leadership following the T20 World Cup 2021 in September last year.
After India were eliminated in the group stage of the showpiece event, the BCCI removed Kohli as ODI captain and appointed Sharma as new white-ball skipper.
The 34-year-old batter was named India's full-time ODI captain by the All-India Senior Selection Committee in December last year, when they announced the Test squad for tour of South Africa.
Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma and Kohli's teammate also penned an emotional note after the 33-year-old stepped down from his role.
Taking to Twitter, Ishant wrote: "Thank you for all the memories I've shared with you in dressing room & on & off the field since childhood, where we never thought that you would be our captain & I'll play 100 test matches for India."
"All we did was just play cricket with all our heart & things worked out well. I still remember back 2017 in South Africa, where you told me its high time to win series in these countries. Yes, we didn’t win 2017-18 series in Africa, but we went to Australia & beat them in Australia. In England 2017-18 series we lost, but we know as team how close we came!," Ishant added.
"So cheers to your most successful Test Captaincy for India and thanks for the amazing memories as a Captain you have given us." (UNI)