June 20, 2017
Virat Kohli’s reservations with his style of functioning and his continuance as head coach influenced him to step down from his position, said Anil Kumble on Tuesday (June 20) night.
June 20, 2017
Virat Kohli’s reservations with his style of functioning and his continuance as head coach influenced him to step down from his position, said Anil Kumble on Tuesday (June 20) night.
Though the BCCI attempted to resolve the misunderstandings between the captain and me, it was apparent that the partnership was untenable: Kumble. – BCCI
A little over an hour and a half after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said through a press release that Kumble had withdrawn from the post of head coach, the former India skipper took to Twitter to explain his decision despite the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) recommending that Kumble’s term as head coach be extended till the end of the 2019 World Cup.
For the better part of three weeks now, stories have been doing the rounds over Kohli’s misgivings over Kumble’s approach, but it was only on Monday that officials of the Indian board made the captain’s displeasure known to him, revealed Kumble.
After the CAC, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, had handed over their recommendation to the BCCI, Kohli and Kumble came face to face in London on Monday evening in the presence of Amitabh Choudhary, the acting secretary of the BCCI, Rahul Johri, the BCCI CEO, and MV Sridhar, the BCCI general manager of cricket operations.
It was post – or during – that meeting that Kumble made up his mind to not continue as the head coach, though typically, news of his stepping down was again leaked before he officially communicated his decision to the BCCI.
“I was informed for the first time yesterday by the BCCI that the Captain had reservations with my ‘style’ and about my continuing as the Head Coach,” wrote Kumble in his Twitter account. “I was surprised since I had always respected the role boundaries between Captain and Coach. Though the BCCI attempted to resolve the misunderstandings between the Captain and me, it was apparent that the partnership was untenable, and therefore I believe it is best for me to move on.
“Professionalism, discipline, commitment, honesty, complementary skills and diverse views are the key traits I bring to the table. These need to be valued for the partnership to be effective. I see the Coach’s role akin to ‘holding a mirror’ to drive self-improvement in the team’s interest.
“In light of these ‘reservations’, I believe it is best I hand over this responsibility to whomever the CAC and BCCI deem fit.”
Kohli had, at the start of the Champions Trophy 2017 earlier this month, emphatically ruled out any differences with Kumble, echoing a song that Choudhary had sung from the same page in Birmingham a few days earlier. It now transpires, from Kumble’s statement, that having reapplied for the post of the head coach on May 30, it is the developments since that have forced him to walk away after a massively successful 11 months or so with the national team.
Crediting everyone concerned for India’s stirring run, which has catapulted them to the No. 1 Test ranking and which took them to the final of the Champions Trophy, Kumble also thanked the CAC for showing faith in him by recommending an extension for him as the head coach.
“I am honoured by the confidence reposed in me by the CAC, in asking me to continue as Head Coach,” he said. “The credit for the achievements of the last one year goes to the Captain, the entire team, coaching and support staff.
“Let me reiterate that it has been an absolute privilege to have served as Head Coach for the last one year. I thank the CAC, BCCI, CoA and all concerned.
“I also wish to thank the innumerable followers and fans of Indian cricket for their continued support. I will remain a well-wisher of the great cricketing tradition of my country forever.”
Whether he remains more than just a well-wisher is to be seen. For now, this is a victory for no one. Not for Kohli, and most certainly not for Indian cricket. Or, at least, it should not be.
Courtesy: Wisden India
