Tendulkar, Ganguly & Laxman to interview for head coach of India

Anil Kumble, has no experience to coach a team- one of the BCCI criterion to pick Team India head coach, he mentored Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in IPL.

Kumble admitted that the coach’s job will not be an easy one, considering all the travel and the time away from family, and he thanked his family for being supportive when he first made a decision to apply for the job.

After the four-test series in the Caribbean, the India team is set for a bumper season at home when they will be playing 13 test matches, eight ODIs and three T20 internationals.

BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke said the one year tenure would ensure professionalism.

The appointment of bowling, batting and assistant coaches will be done soon, said board president Anurag Thakur.

“All five of us [Rahul Dravid included] have had a wonderful relationship both on and off the field and we will need to sit down and do what is needed for Indian cricket”.

“Kumble made a very good presentation before the committee by unveiling his vision for the Indian cricket. We wanted the best for the Indian team”, he added.

The high-profile committee submitted its final report on the appointment of the new coach at the BCCI’s working committee meeting in Dharamsala.

As part of the process for selecting the head coach, the Board received 57 applications, which were evaluated by the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly with Sanjay Jagdale, the Chief Co-Coordinator.

After weeks of speculation and hearsay, the board revealed Kumble would fill in the vacancy left by Duncan Fletcher, whose term had ended after the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Responding to a question on the issue, Kumble joked, “During my playing career, my middle name was Radhakrishnan”.

The other candidates who were interviewed were Tom Moody, Stuart Law, Lalchand Rajput, Pravin Amre and Andy Moles. He has 132 test matches to his credit and the former leg-spinner was in demand for over two decades.

Gavaskar said Kumble, unlike some other coaches, will be actively involved in the team and the players could learn immensely from him. He accumulated 337 ODI wickets.

Kumble, who is India’s most successful bowler in Test and One-Day International cricket, has 956 wickets across the two formats from 403 games.

There are rumours that Ravi Shastri, who lost the race despite having enjoyed the back up of the Captain Virat Kohli, will be accommodated for the benefit of the Indian national side.