Kolkata: Anil Kumble’s stepping down as coach of the Indian team followed by his resignation letter where he clearly mentioned that his relationship with skipper Virat Kohli is, “untenable” has already created a lot of tremors in the cricketing world ever since the news surfaced in the media. In the letter, he had also stated that Kohli had strong reservations about his ‘style’ of working and now, people in the entire sports fraternity have started pointing fingers at the Indian skipper, holding him responsible for the sudden move.
India’s Olympic gold-medallist Abhinav Bindra, in a tweet indirectly had a go at Kohli, describing to him his relationship with his coach.
Wrote Bindra in the tweet, “My biggest teachers was coach Uwe.I hated him!But stuck with him for 20 years.He always told me things I did not want to hear.”
He preferred the option of not mentioning any names but it’s clearly understandable that Virat Kohli is the one for whom this was meant.
Echoing Bindra’s comments, star Badminton player Jwala Gutta too took to Twitter and said that perhaps, things like these are a part of training.
Tweeted Jwala, “Sometimes that’s the important part of training . I remember my sir doing the same…he still does it!!!”
Before the Champions Trophy, the BCCI had begun it’s advertisement for the position of the head coach and had also started to invite applications for the same. It was at that very time that talks of rift between him and skipper Kohli came up as everyone held that the star batsman wasn’t pleased with Kumble’s way of functioning. But Virat himself had declined such rumours before the Champions Trophy.
The BCCI had extended Kumble’s stay as the coach till the end of the limited overs’ tour of the West Indies but the iconic leg-spinner did not leave with the team on Tuesday and instead stayed back in England for an ICC meeting to fulfill his roles as a member of the ICC’s Cricket Committee.
In his resignation letter, which he later tweeted, he wrote, “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.”
He further added, “I was surprised since I had always respected the role boundaries between the captain and coach.”
The BCCI had earlier denied reports of such a rift but Kumble’s letter assured to all of us that there was indeed a problem with Kohli and Kumble which they tried to sort it out.
Wrote the former Indian skipper in the letter, “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.”
The board officials had words of praise for the 46-year old who had begun his job as the coach last June. Amitabh Choudhary, the acting BCCI secretary said, “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.”
The other coaching staff were retained by the BCCI with MV Sridhar, supervising the team’s management.
The Indians under Virat Kohli would play five ODIs and a solitary T20 to end the tour on July 9. The men in blue were thumped by a massive 180 runs in the final of the recently concluded Champions Trophy by arch-rivals Pakistan. Just two days after that painful defeat, Kumble stepped down from the job of the Head Coach.
It remains to be seen how they would fare in the Caribbean.
Sunil Gavaskar asks Virat Kohli to open up on Kumble issue; new coach to be appointed before Sri Lanka tour
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar while speaking to NDTV said that Indian skipper Virat Kohli should open up on the Anil Kumble to makes things clear.
He said, “My advice to Virat would be to make a statement and make things clear. Kumble also needs to clarify who in the BCCI informed him about Virat’s unhappiness about him. A statement from Kohli will help clear the air, saying this is what I feel and my issue with Kumble.”
Also, the new coach of the Indian team would be appointed before India’s tour to Sri Lanka next month, clarified senior board official Rajeev Shukla.