5 Reasons why Anil Kumble is the best choice for Indian coach

The appointment of Anil Kumble as the head coach of the Indian cricket team comes as a breath of fresh air for one and all. However, the 45-year olds’ appointment also comes with a plethora of challenges and questions that need to be answered. While many are steadfast in their stance that Kumble is the best choice among the other candidates in contention, here are five reasons supporting the eventual choice made by the BCCI.

1. He is tactically exceptional:

It is no secret that he is tactically exceptional. You don’t become the captain of the team unless you are tactically good. In the meeting, it was clear that the CAC felt very strongly about Kumble. Of course, he was presenting his points to people who he knew. However, the hours-long presentation and making impressions as well as long-term plans has eventually seen him become the coach. Although he has divulged the tactical question from the media, his analytical mind is something that will be the most important in overseas tours.

2. Focused and determined:

Apart from the fact that Sujith Somasundar, his former teammate said, everyone knows the focus and determination of Kumble. Coming out to bowl with a broken jaw is something no one has braved in recent times. His ability to continue the tour in Australia despite the poor umpiring decisions and to keep the players on his side motivated during the turbulent time is perhaps enough justification for his credentials as Indian coach.

3. A first-time coach:

The BCCI have been extremely transparent in their selection of the coach although some have hinted that they may have been a bit too transparent in their process. The first-time coach, in most cases, has a clean shot at implementing his methods and philosophy on coaching. Having worked with some of the great coaches, the experience will certainly not be a problem for the 45-year old. However, the fact that he has been handed just a one-year contract could hurt his long-term plans.

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4. Familiarity with the players:

Anil Kumble renounced the Indian side in 2008. At the time, youngsters like Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and others were a prominent part of the ODI setup. Having shared a dressing room with them in the past may well make the job a lot easier for Kumble. The tweets of the current players welcoming him into the fold are just a preview of the level of relationship they already are in. With his appointment, the ‘Fab Five’ of Indian cricket Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble are once again at the helm of Indian cricket though in different capacities. The reunion will definitely reap rich fruits for the development of the game in the country.

5. Personality over numbers

When Anil Kumble retired from international cricket, he had the better part of 950 international wickets to his name. However, since then, he has started a grassroots company and has served different roles with the ICC, the BCCI, the KSCA. Each time Kumble has been thrust into a role, he has done it to perfection. Of course, this is the first time he is the coach. However, that raises a tantalizing question – Wasn’t he serving each of those roles for the first time as well? Moreover, his disciplined personality and vision is something the Indian side requires at the moment.

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