BCCI appoints Anil Kumble as Team India head coach: Legendary leggie and former India skipper, Anil Kumble is going to be back with some cricketing duties and service for the national team as he has been appointed the new head coach of the Indian cricket team for a period of one year. The announcement came from BCCI president, Anurag Thakur on Thursday at the board”s inaugural cricket conclave at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association’s (HPCA) Stadium, Dharamsala.
The 45-year-old Anil Kumble has emerged as the winner after mopping up former team India director, Ravi Shastri and 20 other candidates. The process of selection of India”s coach was assigned to the Cricket Advisory Committee of the BCCI. It consisted Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, all former team-mates of Kumble. Sachin Tendulkar, who is out of the country, was available through video conferencing. The committee, under the coordination of Sanjay Jagdale interviewed the candidates in Kolkata. After this they submitted the report to BCCI.
Though Kumble does not fulfill BCCI”s criteria of the candidate having coached a first-class or an international team or “qualified through certification”, he has been selected. However, he had been in mentoring roles of IPL franchises – Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The BCCI haven”t named any bowling, batting or fielding coach, however BCCI President, Anurag Thakur did mention that an announcement regarding the same will be made soon. Kumble is the first Indian to be appointed as the full-time coach of the Indian cricket team since Kapil Dev resigned in 2000. After that India have had John Wright, Greg Chappell, Gary Kirsten and Duncan Fletcher as coaches. Anil Kumble”s first assignment will be the tour of the Caribbean where India play 4 Tests from July 21 against the West Indies. He will join the team at the pre-tour camp at the NCA, starting June 29.
Board President Anurag Thakur said: “He (Kumble) has been a match winner of India. It was not about Indian or foreign coach. It was about who is the best for Indian cricket. We have kept it very transparent. Their presentations… how they can take Indian cricket forward. We have the largest cricket fans in the world. We have the strongest economies. I think Indian cricket deserves the best and we have Kumble with us. His record speaks for himself, as far as winning matches for India is concerned. “