India coach: Kumble throws hat in the ring

The search for India’s cricket coach has taken an interesting turn as it has been reliably learnt that Anil Kumble has applied for the post.

Published : Jun 13, 2016 20:30 IST , Chennai

Anil Kumble is understood to have submitted his candidature well before the June 10 deadline.
Anil Kumble is understood to have submitted his candidature well before the June 10 deadline.
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Anil Kumble is understood to have submitted his candidature well before the June 10 deadline.

The search for India’s cricket coach has taken an interesting turn as it has been reliably learnt that Anil Kumble has applied for the post.

Incidentally, the BCCI’s press release on Sunday merely stated that there are 57 applicants, including overseas candidates, but did not mention any names.

When compared to other former India players, at least the ones who admitted to the media that they have applied for the post, Kumble towers over the rest in terms of cricketing stature. India’s greatest match-winning bowler with 956 international wickets (619 in Tests and 337 in ODIs) and one who also led India ably, Kumble is understood to have submitted his candidature well before the June 10 deadline.

One of the BCCI’s stipulations for the top slot is that the candidate “should have successfully coached a cricket team of any of the member countries of the ICC, at the first class or at the International level.” In terms of coaching, Kumble has mentored IPL teams Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.

Currently, Sanjay Bangar is the interim coach for the Indian team that is playing in Zimbabwe. The BCCI needs to pick a coach ahead of India’s next month’s tour of the West Indies, where Virat Kohli’s men will play four Tests. Subsequently, India has an exhaustive home-season, featuring 13 Tests, with the visitors being New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia.

The BCCI’s latest press release mentioned that the “scrutiny of the applications received is now being carried out by the office of the honorary secretary (Ajay Shirke) of the BCCI. After this initial scrutiny, the list of candidates who meet the criteria will be processed for further consideration.”

Understandably, the views of India’s captains — Kohli in Tests and M. S. Dhoni in ODIs and T20Is — will play a critical role in the selection of the coach.

The coming weeks should offer some clarity on how the BCCI handles the final stage of picking the coach.

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