Virat Kohli disconsolate with Anil Kumble, Big 3 to intervene, mediate peace

Reports have surfaced about internal conflicts within the Indian team between the players and the coach. Apparently, Virat Kohli is unhappy with Anil Kumble’s method of governance within the team and BCCI wants the Big Three of Indian Cricket, i.e., Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to mediate peace between the two parties.

Apparently, Anil Kumble’s hard task-master attitude hasn’t got down well with the team and there are speculations regarding players preferring the presence of Ravi Shastri instead of Anil Kumble. The news of disharmony within the team ahead of India’s fixture against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, baffled many looking at India’s record in past one year.

BCCI’s Big 3, the advisory panel which instated Anil Kumble as the head coach of the Indian Team is expected broker peace between Kumble and Kohli’s men. Further, it is said that Kohli had a long chat with Sourav Ganguly regarding the issue post-India’s warm-up match against the Kiwis on Sunday. Vinod Rai and the other CoA member are also expected to meet the three titans of Indian Cricket regarding the issue.

It is learnt that certain section of BCCI wants an extension of Anil Kumble’s contract even though skipper Kohli doesn’t want to include Kumble in the long-term plan. The other names which came up were Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, and Rahul Dravid. Sehwag blatantly refused to the offer and Ravi Shastri has not shown any interest in applying for the job.

Where it all began?

The differences between Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble can be traced back to the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia where the two parties had a difference of opinion on several issues. Apparently, Virat Kohli was surprised with his exclusion from the side as Kumble backed the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in place of the injured captain.

Additionally, it is also believed that Kohli preferred Ravi Shastri’s presence in the team which provided a ‘feel-good-factor’ within the team, which is currently missing since Anil Kumble took over. BCCI didn’t oblige to the Kohli’s request of extension of Ravi Shastri’s contract.