Since Anil Kumble was appointed as the permanent head coach of India cricket in June, the team has been consistently performing well. The former leggie has formed a strong bond with Test captain Virat Kohli, and the combination has helped India win in West Indies and also the ongoing Test series against New Zealand.
Kumble, during his playing days, was a fierce competitor and one can see Kohli having a similar approach to win and excel against all teams. With both having a similar objective for the betterment of India cricket, they have got going, right from the outset.
"Cricketers understand each others' mindset and if the mindset is to win at any cost, there is not much that needs to be discussed. Our views matched immediately because we both wanted the same thing for Indian cricket and for this team to go forward. When he came in he exactly understood what I wanted from this team going forward. So, there wasn't much debate," BCCI's official website quoted Kohli as saying.
Kumble has already taken some strong decisions, one of them being not to include a bowling coach as he can also perform the role. After his takeover, the leggie has been working closely with the bowlers of the team, offering them tips and suggestions. With his bowling experience at the top-most level, Kumble can be of great help to the current crop of bowlers in the India team.
Kohli believes Kumble has played an important role in providing them confidence, and with him in the dressing room, the team has got a huge belief in themselves to shine against all opposition.
"The one big factor is the mindset that he brings in as a bowler. He gives that belief to our bowlers that things do happen if you persist for long enough. His experience is priceless. To be in those situations and having done them in the past himself makes a massive difference. There is an extra belief in the change room having a player who has already done those things himself," Kohli said.
"Sometimes your brain is not able to process things that you want to; you can follow advice from someone who knows how it is done. Then you see results and you can trust him to get you a way out in the future as well. That has been a big revelation."
This is just the initial phase of Kumble-Kohli partnership. The future looks bright in Test cricket, and with India involved in a long home season, one can hope for some quality cricket from Kohli's men in the next few months.
