Published: May 31, 2017, 05:05 PM (IST)
Edited: May 31, 2017, 05:05 PM (IST)
Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) bowled a googly to Anil Kumble by inviting fresh applications for the post of Team India’s new head coach. The reports of fallouts between Virat Kohli and Kumble in the media may have triggered BCCI to look for new coach despite Team India doing exceptionally well under Kumble’s tenure. But amidst all the speculations, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has backed BCCI’s decision to get a new head coach for the team. Kumble’s one-year term will end at the end of the Champions Trophy 2017 in June.
“What the BCCI is doing in my view is following procedure. You will never have a situation when the captain and coach of any country are on the same page,” Gavaskar was quoted at the Aaj Tak Salaam Cricket 2017.
“It is impossible for that to happen because the coach had played in the earlier generation and that’s why the approach maybe slightly different from the current generation. It might not be something actually happening on the field – it could be something to do with practice sessions or team combinations. I don’t think that should be taken too seriously because these discussions are healthy for the team,” he further added.
According to some reports, it was claimed the players are unhappy with the fact that there was no freedom in the dressing room. Moreover, it has also been reported that Kumble did not maintain cordial relations with the players resulting in losing their confidence.
Gavaskar also added that the tactical differences between coaches and captains are common because of a generation gap and such differences exist in every team from every country.
“A coach should be somebody who has a vision for Indian cricket. He should have a vision that should take the team ahead for the next 8 to 10 years. Kumble has done a very good job as coach. I am simply going by the results and when you go by the results of last year, you can say he has done nothing wrong,” Gavaskar said.
Kumble was appointed last year by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CoA) comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
“Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman – these three are legends of the game – these three have played with Anil and they will get the respect and will be heard by both Virat and Anil. These three have nothing but the interest of Indian cricket at heart. In case there’s any truth in the matter, I think that should be the way forward,” Gavaskar concluded.
