New Delhi: The process adopted by the BCCI in appointing the coach for the Indian cricket team has raised a few question marks. Reports doing the rounds suggest that it was the insistence of the cricketing stalwarts present in the selection committee that the name of Anil Kumble was included in the final list that ultimately led to his selection as the head coach over the team director Ravi Shastri among others.
Rumours had been rife of Shastri’s appointment as the batting coach for the Indian team after Kumble was given preference for the bigger role. That too eventually did not happen. Reports suggest that the Cricket Advisory Committee, appointed by the BCCI had recommended Ravi Shastri’s name as the Indian cricket team’s batting coach, along with Anil Kumble as the head coach. However, the board did not consider the decision on grounds that the suggestion exceeded the committee’s mandate.
The advisory committee that included Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman was told to choose only the new coach of the Indian team. Anil Kumble was eventually picked over Tom Moody and the others.
“It was a long meeting, which lasted seven-eight hours. Ideas were bounced off. Yes, the panel recommended Shastri’s name as batting coach, at which point I intervened. The committee’s mandate was restricted to appointing the head coach of the Indian team and I just reminded them that,” BCCI secretary Ajay Shikre told The Indian Express.
“We have taken a decision that like all professional sporting set-ups, the head coach will bring his own team of support staff. The BCCI is striving for transparency, professionalism and excellence,” he added.
The report further states that Kumble’s appointment also had the backing of Virat Kohli.
“Kumble’s name was finalised following feedback from Kohli. Both Kumble and Moody gave very impressive presentations. In fact, the Australian became a serious choice, given his coaching pedigree. But Kohli wanted Kumble with an eye to improve the performance of the spinners overseas. Spinners don’t win us Tests outside the subcontinent and Kohli felt Kumble could play an important role in this regard,” said a close aide to BCCI.
Notably, the performance of Indian spinners outside the subcontinent has been below average with the team losing 15 Test matches in the last five years.
Though R Ashwin topped the ICC Test bowler rankings in 2015 and had scalped 21 wickets in three Test matches against Sri Lanka, he failed to perform with the ball outside the subcontinent as he managed just 29 wickets in 10 matches.
