Kumble named India’s coach
Bengaluru (DHNS): Anil Kumble won the race to become the coach of the Indian cricket team after the BCCI handed him a one-year deal, bringing to end nearly a fortnight of suspense.
The 45-year-old former India captain pipped former Team Director Ravi Shastri, Australians Tom Moody and Stuart Law.
A three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Kumble’s illustrious former teammates Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman and Sourav Ganguly, interviewed 10 candidates for the job in Kolkata on Tuesday in a marathon session which lasted close to 10 hours.
“I’m really honoured, and I’d like to thank the BCCI and the CAC for trusting me with this responsibility,” said Kumble on Thursday, shortly after he was appointed the coach. “I’ve never been one to shy away from challenges, I’ve always put my hand up.”
Announcing the decision following the Working Committee meeting of the BCCI in Dharamsala on Thursday, Board Secretary Anurag Thakur said: “BCCI has been very transparent. We fixed a criterion. There was the CAC as well. They have gone through the process, interviewed and recommended a few names. After discussions with various stakeholders, we have decided that Anil Kumble will be the head coach of the Indian cricket team for the next one year.
“It is not about Indian or foreign, it is about who is best for the job. I think we have used the services of the 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, India’s highest wicket-taker with 956 scalps (619 in Tests & 337 in ODIs), emerged as the front-runner for the job, despite having zero coaching experience.
“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,” Thakur reasoned.