Published: Sep 11, 2016, 10:08 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 11, 2016, 10:56 AM (IST)
The Indian team was under deep concern during the selection of the head coach, as it is one of the most eminence and pore over job in Indian cricket. However, when it turned out to be one of the legendary Indian spinners in the history, in the form of Anil Kumble, who claimed 619 and is also the highest wicket-taker in the Indian team till date, since the start of the West Indies tour 2016, the focus has equally been on the coach itself as of the Indian team. Kumble, who just returned following an impressive 2-0 win by India over the West Indies in the just concluded four-Test series, spoke about the challenges he faced. Anil Kumble, BCCI congratulate India A on their Quadrangular A Series victory
In an exclusive interview with cricbuzz.com, Kumble spoke about his experience in the first major outing as the Indian coach. “It was fruitful. I was welcomed by the team. Having played and mentored a few of them in various capacities in different franchisees in the IPL, I mostly knew all of them personally too. A couple of them, people like Ishant, I had played with [for India]. I guess initially with some of the players there was a little bit of hesitancy. That’s why we created the drum-jam session which they obviously didn’t expect,” he said.
“The two weeks prior to the first Test match in Antigua, when we were in St Kitts, helped me know the team better and understand their requirements. It also allowed me to settle in gradually. In the West Indies, it is relaxed after games. So it is a lot easier to bond and be together as a team, unlike in England, Australia or South Africa or at home, where it is very difficult to get out and be together as a team. So, in that way I think West Indies was the perfect start,” he added. Anil Kumble excited to work alongside MS Dhoni
Speaking on the tour from his personal experience, he said, “It’s been a challenge, probably the longest that I have been outside without the family – two months- since the 2008 Sri Lanka tour. I think the kids anyway have understood now. The first question is, ‘When are you leaving?’ I have told them and they are aware. This year, it is only going to be at home. So hopefully weekends or whenever they can, they can come over. They are coping. It’s not easy but it has been okay. It was quite difficult for me. But the good part was I was in an environment where I always want to be – a cricketing environment, the dressing room and to be among the current crop of players. You can’t ask for anything more.”
On being asked about the positives from the West Indies tour, he said, “The biggest takeaway for me was that I realized this team is extremely committed. They are all extremely skillful and what was really impressive was that when asked to do anything, they were ready. There are times when key players miss out and disappointments are a part and parcel of a team sport. But it was all taken in good spirit. The players are all great friends off the field, which is really nice to know. The camaraderie in this side is something I am really impressed with.” Anil Kumble: Really pleased with Mohammed Shami’s comeback
“I wanted to give them all the help to make whatever informed decisions they want to. Whether it was the captain or the team, I gave them all the key decision-making tools. I strongly believe that a coach’s involvement or his role in a cricketing team is very limited. It is important for him to make the team prepare well, keep them in a good space and offer strategic inputs, whatever you can of the opposition, of the team. That’s all you can do,” he added.
On being asked if he was inspired by any coach, prior to the beginning of his coaching career, he said, “There have been many coaches I have played under. Someone who probably was there the longest was John Wright. John was someone who did some of these things that I am talking about now, and as someone who was in the background.The coach’s role is always that – the captain is the boss. We try and help the captain by giving him inputs that are needed so he makes a decision based on that, or whatever he feels at that point in time.”
“At the end of the day, the last word is with the captain and that goes without saying. Even when I was captain, I expected that the coach was just in the background and he didn’t force his decisions on me. And that’s exactly how it is even now – the captain takes the call,” he added. Anil Kumble praises West Indies
Also, he was asked on how he handles the players, especially the ones who are successful, and the ones who are struggling, he said, “We try and leave the outside pressures out. That’s something which obviously is the key. As far as the team is concerned, the one message that I like to give the players is that nobody is under any scrutiny from the team’s perspective. From a coach’s perspective, all of them are the same. There are specific roles given to specific players and as long as they perform the roles to the team’s satisfaction, I am happy.”
“If the scrutiny from outside is that oh, this particular player is not really doing the things that is perceived to be done, we don’t really worry about it. My feeling is that is you can’t have all 11 players the same. You need different players and different characteristics in them for us to be consistent in any situation. And that’s what all the players bring to the table. That’s why you have a Cheteshwar Pujara, you have a Rohit Sharma. I know it’s not fair, the kind of scrutiny especially these two players go through whenever they get an opportunity. So one thing is for sure, whoever gets an opportunity will certainly be given a longer run so that these pressures are not at least coming from the team,” he added.
On being asked the amount of attention he gets, and how he handles it, he quoted, “I understand there is a lot of attention because of the stature and what I have been able to do as a player. That’s the first thing I told the team. I said, ‘Look, forget about what I have done as a player. Yes, it is there, but now I am the coach and I am like an elder brother to all of you. It’s just that I have the experience and the wisdom, hopefully, of doing the right things or the wrong things over the last 18 years and that’s something that you guys can just come in and ask.That I will share as we go along, based on what we require on the field and off the field.’ I know everybody else looks at it very differently but I certainly look at it that way. And with the players, it is going to take some time for them to look at it that way as well.”
