Team India’s incumbent head coach Ravi Shastri has hinted that he will step down from the role after the end of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, scheduled in the UAE and Oman. Ever since the news surfaced, a couple of names have come up as Virat Kohli & Co’s next head coach including Anil Kumble.
Incidentally, the former India captain was the head coach of the Men in Blue and had to step down in 2017 after a public fallout with captain Virat Kohli. While speculations continue to rife, reports suggest that Anil Kumble is not too keen to take up the role.
"Sourav Ganguly has recommended his (Anil Kumble) name for Head coach, but other Officals expressed their disagreement on it." – A highly placed source in the Board (To IANS)
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) September 29, 2021
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is keen to have Kumble back at the helm. However, many BCCI office-bearers are not in favour of the same because Anil Kumble would have to deal with almost the same group of players with whom he had disagreements earlier. As a result, a section of BCCI feels someone fresh should take up the role.
“Well, neither Anil Kumble wants to return, nor the BCCI officials, other than president Sourav Ganguly, are too interested in him. The Board is looking for a foreign coach now. Kumble knows that he will have to face the same old team members (Virat Kohli and others in the team), nothing new, then why would he return? And moreover, Dada (Ganguly) has recommended his name, but other officials expressed their disagreement on it,” a highly-placed source in the board told IANS.
BCCI keen to have a foreign coach
Mahela Jayawardene is joining Sri Lankan cricket team as a consultant during the T20 World Cup qualifiers. He will also work as a consultant for a period of five months with the Sri Lanka Under-19 team. His stint with the Under-19 side will be on an honourary basis.
— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) September 24, 2021
The report also adds that the apex body is keen to have a foreign coach this time around. Since 2015, Team India hasn’t had a foreigner as the national team’s coach. Duncan Fletcher was the last foreign coach for Team India.
Recently former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene’s name surfaced as the front-runner to take up the role but the Mumbai Indians head coach has quashed all such rumours.
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