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Anil Kumble given India’s reins, but without a long rope

Anil Kumble was appointed as new coach of India cricket team but only for one year.

anil kumble, kumble, india new coach, who is new india cricket coach, india cricket coach, india cricket team, bcci cricket, cricket india, cricke news, cricket Anil Kumble’s name was not in the list of 21 candidates, but was a late entrant. (source: PTI)

Nearly a month after the Indian cricket board advertised for the position of head coach for the national cricket team, Anil Kumble, former skipper and the country’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, was appointed to the post on Thursday.

But for all his credentials as a player, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not been swayed into thinking that his stature as one of India’s finest cricketers will translate into success as coach and has appointed the former leg-spinner for a period of one year.

Also Read: For India cricket, yesterday, once more

The rationale behind the 12-month term is to assess how Kumble performs as coach during a period in which India plays four away Tests against the West Indies, 13 Tests at home and the Champions Trophy in England. If the team coached by Kumble is able to produce results in this period his term could be extended else, the Indian cricket board will appoint a new coach, who will have enough time on hand before the next edition of the 50-over World Cup in 2019.

WATCH VIDEO: KUMBLE APPOINTED COACH

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“We have Anil Kumble with us. He has been a match-winner for India. He has a great record. And his record speaks… his individual achievements as far winning matches for India is concerned,” BCCI president Anurag Thakur said, before adding, “Of course, it (Kumble’s one year term) will be reviewed after that.” The board secretary Ajay Shirke made it clear Kumble has to make the transition from being a successful player to an effective coach.

“As for the one year period Kumble is now transforming himself from being a great on the cricketing field to probably becoming a great coach that we expect him to be. That transition has to be smooth. This is a professional appointment. All professional appointments try to cover all bases. Therefore that is the reason we want to be able to be in a position to review our options should there be any need. I am confident that we will not have that need to address that need. That is the exact reason behind the one-year appointment,” the BCCI secretary said.

Festive offer

Also Read: What Kumble the coach can learn from Kumble the bowler

Both Thakur and Shirke claimed the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) had forwarded a ‘few names’ and after ‘consulting various stakeholders’ the final call was taken to appoint Kumble. It is learnt that India Test skipper Virat Kohli was kept in the loop about Kumble’s appointment.

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The other former players who were in the final leg of the race to become the head coach were Kumble’s predecessor Ravi Shastri (who was the team director) and Australian Tom Moody. The decision on the support staff who will work along with Kumble will be taken in the coming days before the Indian team leaves for the four-Test tour of the West Indies.

Kumble is set to join the pre-tour camp which will be held in Bangalore next week before he flies out with the team to the Caribbean for this first major assignment.

Kumble did not fulfil one of the criteria when the BCCI advertised for the post of the Indian coach — to have successfully coached a first-class team of a member country or an international team, but keeping in mind his stature as a player the CAC included his name though he was a late entrant. Kumble’s name was also not part of the list of 21, pruned from 57, which was forwarded by the BCCI secretary’s office members of the CAC — Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly.

Since his retirement in 2008, Kumble has not coached a team but has been mentor of Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians. He is also chairman of the ICC’s cricket committee.

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However, the opportunity to coach India will put Kumble in the hot seat and he will be aware he has not been given a long rope. “He has been given the keys to a Rolls Royce and now he has to drive it into the place. We will watch if he is able to drive the Rolls Royce well,” Shirke said.

‘Conflict issue will be resolved’

India’s newly-appointed coach Anil Kumble on Thursday said the issue of the conflict of interest will be resolved before he officially assumes charge of the Indian cricket team. Kumble’s association with Tenvic, a company “in the business of sports and consulting”, has raised questions around a possible conflict of interest in the past. “We (BCCI and I) have already discussed that. Whatever needs to be done will be done before I take up this role officially. That has been discussed, and it has been clear with the BCCI as well. Something that can be easily resolved,” Kumble said when asked about the issue by reporters after BCCI’s announcement.

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First uploaded on: 24-06-2016 at 00:52 IST
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