The recent controversy involving Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and head coach Anil Kumble has shaken up veteran cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman.
The trio, who forms the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) and picked Anil Kumble to coach Team India a year ago, has found their choice of candidate being treated with disrespect, both by the Indian cricket team captain and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Kohli versus Kumble rift led to the latter bowing out after Kohli stuck to his stand that “Anil was detrimental to the team”.
They are also unhappy over the manner in which the entire coach appointment process has panned out. The hands-off, bureaucratic approach adopted by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) and the board officials' shenanigans on the issue have left a bitter aftertaste. It has also created a dent in the public perception of Kohli as a mature leader.
The former Indian skipper made a dignified exit after the CAC's last ditch effort to get the differences sorted out failed. Kumble ended his one-year tenure as Team India's head coach by withdrawing from the coach's race after reapplying for the job.
“Though the BCCI attempted to resolve the misunderstanding between the Captain and me, it was apparent that the partnership was untenable and I therefore believe it is time for me to move on,” he stated.
Earlier, media reports had alleged that it was not just Kohli, but there were other senior members too, who found Kumble's approach “intimidating”. However, it has now emerged that it was specifically “a personal issue between Kohli and Kumble”.
When asked what specifically was Kohli's issue with Kumble, a well-placed source said, “I don't think he was happy with the way Anil Kumble operated. He thinks Kumble's approach is detrimental to the team.”
Interestingly, the source added that a new coach (Kumble) was brought in last year after Kohli was not fully happy with the results under the then team Director Ravi Shastri. Apparently, Kohli had conveyed the same to a former Indian legend. “We don't know what Virat wants. First Ravi, then Kumble, next will it be Sehwag?”
This revelation busts the popular impression that Kohli was keen on Shastri's continuation last year and wanted him to return to the helm but was declined by Shastri himself.
As for the extension, it is still not clear if it was till the West Indies tour upon CoA chairman Vinod Rai's suggestion or till 2019 World Cup. “The extension was subject to Virat and Kumble resolving their differences. The idea was to make them sort out the differences and work together, ” said a source involved in resolving the matter. But even before this could happen, BCCI officials spoke to Kumble.
The officials, who are currently running the show, are also under scrutiny. Both the CAC and CoA are reportedly upset with the manner in which the issue was handled in London by the BCCI, even as CAC made attempts to sort out the feud.
In his statement, Kumble, while thanking CAC for asking him to continue as head coach, said, “Post this intimation, I was informed for the first time yesterday by the BCCI that the captain had reservations with my style and about my continuing as head coach.”
It is no secret that the BCCI old guard wanted Kumble removed. The fact that the board went ahead and informed Kumble about Kohli, despite CAC's backing for the former head coach, raises questions.
The CoA has asked Acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary to submit a report by June 24 on the events that took place in London. It has also asked the BCCI to submit the team manager's report on the series at home.
An influential BCCI administrator said, “What's the use of CoA asking for a report when it's all over? CoA should have been on top of the issue in England.” But a BCCI official involved in the matter said, “It just wouldn't have worked out. Things were pretty bad between the two. Had Anil continued they would have been fighting all the time.”
While the CAC members are said to be not fired up about resuming search for a new coach, a senior cricket administrator, when asked if fresh applications will be called for, said, “That's the CAC's call.”
