A victory in Champions Trophy not enough to renew contract for India head coach Anil Kumble

Former India leg-spinner and current head coach of the Indian cricket team Anil Kumble has had a successful tenure behind the scenes. However, Kumble’s contract will come up for review at the end of the Champions Trophy in June. The BCCI made it clear that a win for Team India will not suffice for Anil Kumble to obtain a new contract as head coach.

India have had a successful home season which saw their team bag four consecutive Test series against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia. Virat Kohli’s boys also clinched the limited overs series against England in between. Despite Anil Kumble being the man behind India’s triumphs, the BCCI’s top brass officials were dissatisfied with Kumble’s attitude.

A senior BCCI official was reported as saying to Cricketnext that Kumble’s attitude and conduct will have an effect on his future prospects as the coach of Team India.

“Kumble’s chances of getting an extension even if India go on to successfully defend the Champions Trophy remains 50-50. Don’t think it will alone have a bearing on the board’s decision on the chief coach. He has time and again broken the protocol and his attitude hasn’t impressed the BCCI,” the official said.

The official was quite vociferous and seemed to think that the coach alone has no major contribution. He lashed out at the reporter saying, “So, are you trying to tell me that the coach alone is responsible for a team doing well? If that is the case, then why look for talented players? We can just look for talented coaches. A coach is just as good as the team. Having said that, we aren’t trying to discount a coach’s role. All we wish to convey is that Kohli and the boys have an important role to play if India are to win the tournament.”

According to the BCCI, Anil Kumble has repeatedly contacted the Committee of Administrators appointed by the Supreme Court to look into the daily functioning of the board. The fact that Kumble has bypassed the BCCI hasn’t amused the official who added, “It is fine to speak to the COA on and off. But you cannot keep trying to bypass the BCCI and contact them for things which are under the board’s domain.”

His remark comes close on the heels of Anil Kumble approaching the COA over the delay in the BCCI’s announcement of India’s Champions Trophy squad. The board is also set to review the contracts of batting coach Sanjay Bangar and fielding coach R Sridhar at the end of the Champions Trophy.

“The support staff of the Indian team, which includes chief coach Anil Kumble along with batting coach Sanjay Bangar and fielding coach R Sridhar will be in charge of the team till the Champions Trophy. The contracts will be discussed and reviewed after the mega event in England. Any decision on whether they stay or not will be taken only after the tournament,” BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhury had said.