Former leg spinner Anil Kumble has been appointed as the coach of the Indian national team for one year. Kumble was one of the best bowlers that India ever produced, and played an important role during his playing days alongside three members – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman -- of the BCCI Cricket Advistory Committee, who played an important hand in "Jumbo" getting the job.
Now, the new coach wants the support of CAC, and Rahul Dravid, who is in-charge of the junior teams, as he sets his eye on a challenging journey.
"Players-come-first will be my approach. I have played a lot of cricket with the three members of the CAC, and a lot of cricket with Rahul, so the five of us will be in touch and we will have to coordinate and speak to each other also," Deccan Herald quoted Kumble as saying.
Kumble, after being appointed the new coach, has become the first Indian coach in a permanent role since Kapil Dev in 2000. After Kapil, John Wright, Greg Chappell, Gary Kirsten, Duncan Fletcher were the last four permanent coaches.
However, Ravi Shastri looked after the affairs of the India team in the capacity of team director, and was considered to be a front runner for the job as well, but lost out to Kumble. Shastri did a good job with the India team, which comprises some young quality cricketers.
Kumble has been following India's cricket, and has been impressed with the performance of this young team. India defeated Sri Lanka and South Africa in the Test series last year, and had a great run in the T20 format in 2016, reaching the semi-finals of the World T20 as well.
He already has made some plans for the team, and hopes that the Men in Blue will implement his ideas on the field.
"This is a very young team with a lot of potential," he said. "They've shown in the recent past that they're capable of beating big sides. Obviously it's too early for me to say anything. Yes I have plans; I've laid out some blueprints, but at the end of it the team has to buy in and that's what I'm really looking forward to. I had a chat with Virat. MS (Dhoni), once he comes back from Zimbabwe, I'll have a chat with him as well," Kumble said.
Kumble retired from the sport in 2008, so he knows most of the players in the India team, and wants to be like an elder brother on and off the field.
"This is a young team. I certainly believe that as a coach of a young team, you need to be hands on and you need to really get your hands dirty as well: train with them, be a part of their training. And be with them more like an elder brother, in every aspect, not just on the field, but also off it."
"That's something I will be focusing on. There's a camp here (from 29th). It'll be nice to get to know these players. I know all of them obviously; I've worked with a few of them, played with a couple of them. It'll be a new beginning."
The India tour of West Indies, which takes shape next month, will be Kumble's first assignment as India coach.
