Anil Kumble wasn’t sacked; Shastri’s selection was not as per Virat Kohli’s choice: VVS Laxman

It was one of the most forgettable incidents in the history of Indian cricket. Legendary spinner and former captain Anil Kumble had become the coach of the national team in June 2016 for a year after an interview which was taken by former big names of Indian cricket. However, it was just after a year that Kumble stepped down from the high post after the final of the Champions Trophy in 2017 over reported differences with captain Virat Kohli even though BCCI gave him an extension.

The 48-year-old former cricketer’s stepping down saw a huge uproar with fans clearly polarised over supporting Kumble and Kohli. Kumble was replaced by current coach Ravi Shastri though that episode also had its sour moments since Shastri failed to grab the plum post when Kumble was preferred in 2016.

Another former cricketer VVS Laxman, who is a part of the three-member Cricket Advisory Committee entrusted with the job of selecting India’s coach at the time, has thrown more light on the matter recently. The former stylish batsman said nobody sacked Kumble but the latter himself resigned under compelling circumstances. He said Kohli had an issue as far as Kumble’s working style was concerned. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly served as the other two members of the committee.

‘No one sacked Kumble’

“No one sacked Kumble. There was an issue as far as Kohli was concerned. He wasn’t comfortable with Kumble’s style. The BCCI called the CAC to sort it out. We felt Anil did a fantastic job but the circumstances led him to resign. If I was in his position, I’d have done the same,” Laxman said in a discussion titled ‘The Sublime Cricketer’ at the Hindu Lit for Life fest 2019 in Chennai on Monday, Sporstar reported.

The 44-year-old said the CAC had clarified its stand on the matter by conveying to the BCCI that Kumble was a man fit to take India forward. He also said Shastri was considered to be the best option after Kumble resigned and that it was not about Kohli’s preference.
“Anil is a legend of the game. His contributions to Indian cricket are immense. So the bad press he got during the Champions Trophy was uncalled for. He didn’t deserve it,” Laxman said about Kumble, India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests and third highest in the world.

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