On field, things seem to be going fine for the India cricket team but off the field issues are the ones to worry. The ongoing Champions Trophy, for all the good reasons, is receiving wide attention but the hunt for India coach is one of the most talked topics in the news.
Anil Kumble is the current head coach of the Indian team, but the gaffer has not been given a contract extension. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), hence, invited applications for a coach, and the likes of Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody and Richard Pybus among others have thrown their hat in the ring with Kumble as a direct entrant in the selection procedure.
The job of selecting the coach has been entrusted to the Cricket Advisory Committee which comprises stalwarts of India cricket – Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly.
The trio have a tough job in their hands due to the recent turn of events. There have been reports about a certain rift inside the dressing room. Majority of the Indian players, including Virat Kohli, are reportedly not happy with Kumble's style of functioning, which is said to be bossy.
As of now, the CAC is not keen to remove Kumble. They want to give Kumble an extension and it could run till 2019 World Cup.
The CAC have some good reasons to support Kumble as well. Kumble, after becoming the coach last year, helped the Men in Blue become a dominant force in world cricket, defeating the top teams. With CAC having appointed him, it would look foolish on their part to remove him after such a successful stint.
If one looks at the record, Kumble should be given the extension immediately. But it is not as easy as it sounds with the much-talked about rift between the players and the head coach.
Kohli is also said to have approached the CAC even before he flew to England for the Champions Trophy, asking them to consider former Team Director Ravi Shastri for the job. But the problem is Shastri had not even applied for the post.
From here, one understands how Kumble has fallen out of Kohli's favour, which makes us wonder if the CAC decision, as of now, to keep Kumble is a smart move for Indian cricket.
A lot has been said about the rift between Kohli and Kumble and selecting the latter as coach will only complicate matters. With Kohli being the captain of Indian cricket across all formats, it would be difficult for the two to work together under current circumstances.
If the CAC officially takes a final decision on giving Kumble an extension till the next World Cup, in the best interests of Indian cricket, Kohli might have to give up his captaincy role. Considering that the captain and the coach have to be in constant communication for team selection and strategies, it might be a tad difficult to work as a unit.
However, the CAC members could try to make peace between Kumble and Kohli if both keep their current positions. But, the question remains – will it work for Team India?
