Kolkata: There’s a bit of change in hierarchy in Team India. Shortly, Head Coach of Team India Anil Kumble may be elevated to the post of Team Director, the post that was vacant after former India captain Ravi Shastri was shown the door by Cricket Advisory Committee.
Kumble’s elevation has a natural consequence too. The Head coach post will be vacant as shouldering both responsibilities may not be possible for one individual. Yes, India A & U-19 coach Rahul Dravid is set to fill in the post for Head coach.
At the meeting with the committee of administrators (CoA), Kumble was supposedly asked to file a cumulative report on the India Senior team, India A and junior teams, as well as the Indian Women’s team. The COA led by former Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai had hours of discussion with Kumble and assistant coaches R Sridhar and Sanjay Bangar.
According to a report, this step has been taken by the COA as they decided to change the structure of power in the coaching department of the BCCI in such a way, that it matches the hierarchical structure of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). “We need to move ahead with the times and that is why these structural changes are looked at.
If it happens, Indian Cricket will benefit, as one person will handle all the teams and there will be better coordination between all concerned. The plan is already taking place and there is a strong possibility that when new contracts are given out, these changes will be made” board sources were quoted as saying by the New Indian Express.
Kumble however has not finalised talks yet as the board has rightly given him time to think whether or not will it be possible for him to take such a responsibility which requires him to invest more time than he usually does as the Head Coach.
The sources said, “It is too early to say whether Kumble will take up the role or not. Being the coach and team director (with new responsibility) is no easy thing as it needs a lot of dedicated time. The amount of cricket we play might burn him out”.
We have seen that in recent times, the BCCI has gone for a complete makeover. A makeover, the primary objective of which has been to remove corruption and maintain a certain degree of transparency. Whether or not Kumble takes up the responsibility is a matter of his choice, but the board needs a director and hence they are planning to keep backups for the top vacant post.