Kapil Dev: Virat Kohli appeared to be under pressure

Kapil Dev. Pic/Atul Kamble

India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has said that Virat Kohli will be able to play freely now that he has given up the Test captaincy. "I welcome Virat's decision to quit the Test captaincy. He was going through a rough time ever since he gave up the T20 captaincy. He has looked tense in recent times, appeared to be under a lot of pressure. So giving up the captaincy was an option in order to play freely. He opted for that," Kapil told Sunday mid-day on Saturday.

"He is a mature man. I am sure he must have thought hard before taking this important decision. Maybe, he wasn't enjoying the captaincy. We have to support him and wish him luck."

Kapil saw no problem in Kohli playing under a junior. "Even Sunil Gavaskar played under me. I played under K Srikkanth and Mohammed Azharuddin. I had no ego. Virat will have to give up his ego and play under a young cricketer. This will help him and Indian cricket. Virat should guide the new captain, new players. We cannot lose Virat, the batsman…no way," concluded Kapil.