India lost the final of ICC champions trophy against Pakistan on 18th June, 2017. After that, there were speculations and rumours all over the country that the match was fixed. This player took so and so amount of money to get out early and that player took so and so amount to give these many runs. Before these speculations, there were rumours of rift between Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble. The rumours of rift started before ICC champions trophy. At that time, it looked like someone is trying to get attention and news channels are trying to increase TRPs. Considering, the kind of person Anil Kumble is, it was hard to believe that there would be any difference or rift between Kohli and Kumble.
Those rumours turned out to be true when Anil Kumble resigned as head coach on 20th. It was a double blow for fans. When it came out, fans were trying to sink in the loss against Pakistan. Kumble came out with statement “I was informed for the first time yesterday by the BCCI that the captain has the reservations with my ‘style’ and continuing as the head coach.” It says a lot. It doesn’t end here, in that statement Kumble has stated, “Professionalism, discipline, commitment, honesty, complementary skills and diverse views are the key traits I bring to the table. These need to be valued for the partnership to be effective.” Considering the way, he has played the cricket & the way Kumble has led the team, he is totally right in his views and style of coaching.
Players are not going for the shopping trips or to sleep at the time of practice. They are going there to represent our nation. Kumble’s resignation is very shameful for Indian cricket. Indian cricket has lost a great coach in form of Kumble. Virat Kohli often thinks that he is bigger than the game. He has done many acts which proves that. His temperament has been the issue throughout his career but after this, he has lost the respect in many people’s eyes. After this shameful act, BCCI should take the captaincy away from Virat Kohli and request Kumble to continue as a coach. In last one year, India has performed extremely well and Kumble has played a huge role in that performance.
10th July is the date on which CAC is going to select the new coach of India. Some great legends of cricket have applied for it. Among those legends, Virender Sehwag and Ravi Shastri are front runners for the post. Ganguly (one of the three memebers of CAC) has stated that captain is the boss. It means that Virat Kohli will have a say in the selection of next coach. Next coach will have this reservation thing in his mind. There is no point in saying that the players of Ganguly’s era are going to be most effective and prominent coaches of India. Kumble proved that in one year. So, after Kumble, next coach should be Virender Sehwag as Rahul Dravid still want to work with the junior teams.
Ravi Shastri shouldn’t be given even a chance to give presentation for the post after what he did last year after being rejected by CAC. He is the best politician among the applicants and above that, he has proved that he will do anything to get the attention. Moreover, by now, he has taken Kohli into his confidence. Thus, it looks like Kohli is going to favour him. And as captain is the boss (according to members of CAC), it is more likely that memebers of CAC give the hat of head coach to Ravi Shastri. If that happened then it will be more disappointing act than Kumble’s resignation. Last year, when Kumble was selected as a coach, it felt like future of Indian cricket is in the safe hands. Now, it feels like it is in the doom.
On one hand, we have a captain who at times thinks that he is bigger than the game and on other, we have great politicians like Ravi Shastri who are on the verge on being the head coach of team India once again. On a personal note, if Ravi Shastri becomes the next coach of India then I am not going watch India’s matches. Upcoming players will have some sort of impact of Kohli in them and if Kohli is not respecting the greats like Anil Kumble or other players of Ganguly’s era then the future players are not going to do it anyway.
