Nice guys don’t always finish last. When the subject happens to be Anil Kumble, a certain sense of fairness seems to follow naturally.
Ending the fortnight-long suspense, when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Anurag Thakur announced Anil Kumble as the Indian team’s head coach for the next one year, it was indeed a confirmation of the best among the options available.
“The three-member advisory committee, with such reputed cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman followed a transparent process. It did take time but we have the best man for the job,” declared Thakur.
Tight-lipped on others He, however, refused to name the also-rans. “It will not be fair to name those who could not make it. Kumble was a match-winner and has a great record. Now we also expect him to be a great coach,” he added.
In the race for Team India’s coach, Kumble nosed out the outgoing Team Director Ravi Shastri and 55 other aspirants who applied.
Though the genial leg-spinner and former India captain has not been a “coach” of any state or international side, his impeccable track record as a player, the respect he commands from his peers and those now part of the National team and the experience he brings to the dressing room clearly tilted the scales in his favour.
A true professional and a gentleman, Kumble will take over in a season during which India is scheduled to play 13 Tests at home. Kumble’s induction could also be good news for the spinners eyeing selection to the Indian team in Tests.
As part of the three-man spin attack (other two being Rajesh Chauhan and Venkatapathi Raju) during the 1993-94 season, when former captain Ajit Wadekar was the manager, Kumble had tasted enormous success on home tracks against England, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka when India won seven Tests on the trot.
The only Indian to take 10 wickets in a Test innings, the former captain clearly enjoys the respect of the current Test skipper Virat Kohli and the captain in the shorter formats, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Elaborate process “We followed an elaborate process involving presentations, interviews, etc. before zeroing in the final choice,” said the BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke. “Sometimes the committee deliberated for over 6-8 hours.”
Asked if the Board had addressed the issue of Kumble’s possible conflict of interest, considering his association with sports management group Tenvic, Shirke shot back, “It has become very fashionable these days to use the term ‘conflict of interest’. By the time Kumble takes over, there will be no such conflict.”
As Thakur put it, “This has been a professional appointment and we have covered all the bases. This has been a phase of transition for Kumble. From being a great cricketer he can be a great coach.”
The names of the team’s support staff will be announced shortly.
“The Board felt that some of those who applied for the post of the head coach could be given a different role (in the support staff),” said Thakur.
