Sourav Ganguly opens up on the rift between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has finally opened up on the rift between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli which has been a point of discussion for a significant period now. According to Ganguly, the Kumble-Kohli spat, which came to light after the final of ICC Champions Trophy which India lost to Pakistan, should have been handled in a mature way.

“The matter between Kumble and Kohli should have been handled a lot better, by whoever in charge. It was not handled properly,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by NDTV. The former India captain is one of the three members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) who has the authority to appoint a coach. VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar are the members of CAC.

New twist in coach saga

The hunt of India’s coach took a new twist on Monday as former team director, Ravi Shastri, applied for the post of head coach. He straightaway appears as a front runner and the others in the race are Tom Moody and Virender Sehwag.

Shastri had applied for the top job last year as well but the legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble was favored over him. There was also a heated exchange between Ganguly and Shastri on social media after the appointment of Kumble as a head coach.

“Everybody has got the right to apply. We will find out. I can also apply provided I’m not an administrator,” Ganguly said when asked a question regarding the application of Ravi Shastri.

BCCI on Tuesday appointed a seven-member committee headed by IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla to identify the critical points in the implementation of Supreme Court order. Ganguly is the only cricketer in this panel. “We will have to listen to the Committee of Administrators. I’m not exactly sure what will happen but I will find out,” said Ganguly.

Ganguly, as a cricketer, will play an important role in understanding the reforms of the Lodha panel and suggesting a way forward which is the actual functioning of the seven-member committee.