On returning from Sri Lanka, Indian Test Cricket Team wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha in an interview said that he didn’t felt the former India coach Anil Kumble to be strict in contrary with some of his teammates.
Notably, Kumble resigned from the head coach post after India’s Champions Trophy campaign in June 2017 following his differences with India team captain Virat Kohli. Kumble went on to call his relationship with Kohli as untenable.
While talking to media in Kolkata, Saha said, “I did not feel that (strict) way. As a coach, he had to be strict in some way or the other. Some have felt he is strict, some have not. I have never felt that way under Anil Bhai.”
The 32-year-old cricketer from Siliguri while comparing the style of two coaches he said,” Anil Bhai always wanted us to score big — 400,500 and 600 and felt that the opponent can be bowled out within 150-200. That’s not always possible. Ravi Bhai, on the other hand, always tells us to go for the kill. Go out there and hit the opponent out of the park. This is the only difference I could see. Rest, both spoke positive stuff. When Ravi Bhai was the director, he was aggressive. In his new stint, he seems to have become more involved.”
Talking about Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the Test series, he said that they lacked the temperament from the batting point of view. He further added that lacked the patience which helped them eventually.
Saha also mentioned that his combination with Mohammad Shami has been a good one since their Ranji days playing for Bengal. “It’s great that Shami is continuing to be aggressive after coming back from injury. It is good for him and the team. He always creates a wicket-taking opportunity,” he concluded.