Anil Kumble steps down as Indian cricket team's head coach. The former Indian skipper had been given the option to extend his one-year stint with the Indian team by CoA chief Vinod Rai a few weeks ago as the selection process for a new coach was underway.
Anil Kumble has quit as Team India cricket coach after leading the team for a little over a year. The former India spinner and captain did not travel with the team to West Indies where the Men in Blue are scheduled to play five ODIs and a T20I. The BCCI, in a release, revealed that Cricket Advisory Committee (Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman) had endorsed Kumble’s extension but the former Indian skipper decided not to continue as coach.
“We wish to place on record our sincere appreciation for the immense contribution by Anil Kumble to the team which enabled India to attain the No.1 Test position. Indian cricket needs his continued contribution in various capacities and wishes him all the best in his future endeavour,” Mr. Amitabh Choudhary, acting secretary of the Indian cricket board said in the release.
Kumble had been given the option to extend his one-year stint with the Indian team by CoA chief Vinod Rai a few weeks ago as the selection process for a new coach was underway. But the leggie has opted to keep out of the extension invite even though his name was earlier in the running for the next team boss. Reports had been doing the rounds that he didn’t have the best relationship with skipper Virat Kohli and the relationship was beyond repair.
The official reason cited for Kumble not travelling with the team is his role as chairman of Cricket Committee in-charge of taking calls on laws and regulations of the game. The ICC Annual Conference started on Monday and will continue through June 23. Kumble’s Cricket Committee meeting will be held on June 22.
“Today was the last day of Anil Kumble’s contract and he does not want to continue further as Indian team’s coach,” said news agency ANI.
Kumble’s last assignment was the recently concluded Champions Trophy where India finished runners-up to Pakistan after losing the final to Pakistan by 180 runs. Under Kumble, India enjoyed a lot of success in the long home Test season. The team registered wins over West Indies, New Zealand, England and Australia. The Men in Blue also dominated in the shorter formats and were impressive to finish as the second best side in the recently concluded Champions Trophy.
With Kumble out of the race now, it now remains to be seen who the BCCI pick for the coach job. Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Lalchand Rajput, Doda Ganesh and Richard Pybus are the applicants and the decision is likely to be taken soon now. As of now, the team is travelling to the West Indies without a coach. India, under Kohli, will play five ODIs and only T20I against West Indies starting June 23, 2017.
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