Former captain Anil Kumble was on Thursday appointed the India team’s head coach for a one-year tenure, bringing an end to the prolonged suspense over who will take over the reins of the side.
Former captain Anil Kumble was on Thursday appointed the India team’s head coach for a one-year tenure, bringing an end to the prolonged suspense over who will take over the reins of the side.
The 45-year-old Kumble pipped former team director Ravi Shastri, Australians Tom Moody and Stuart Law and a host of others to the high-profile position following an elaborate process headed by a three-member cricket advisory committee.
The committee comprising greats Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman and Sourav Ganguly had interviewed 10 candidates for the job in Kolkata on Tuesday in a marathon session which lasted close to 10 hours.
“BCCI has been very transparent. We fixed a criteria. There was the CAC as well. They have gone through the process, interviewed and recommended few names. After discussions with various stakeholders, we have decided that Kumble will be the head coach of the Indian cricket team for the next one year,” BCCI president Anurag Thakur said in a press conference here.
“It is not about Indian or foreign, it is about who is best for the job. I think we have used the services of best players who have served Indian cricket. There was no such limitation that we have to have only an Indian coach. We wanted the best for the Indian team,” he added.
Kumble, the highest wicket-taker for India till date and third in the international list behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne, emerged as a front-runner in the last few days even though he has no experience in coaching in the international arena.
Kumble’s stint as a mentor with IPL teams such as Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians as well as his vast experience as an international cricketer might have tilted the scale in his favour. Thakur said the names of the other support staff will be announced later.
Explaining the decision to appoint Kumble despite his lack of experience as an international coach, Thakur said the former spinner’s record itself is a testimony to his worthiness for the job.
The BCCI chief said nonetheless, Kumble’s performance would be up for a review after one year.
“He has been a match-winner for India. He has a great record and that speaks for Anil Kumble as far as winning matches for India is concerned. His performance will be reviewed after one year,” he said. Thakur said the decision to appoint Kumble was taken after discussion with all the stakeholders.
“Mr Kumble is a great cricketer. The CAC looked into all applications, they shortlisted a few names. When the names came to us, we discussed with other stakeholders.”
