Anil Kumble’s fate in Ganguly, Tendulkar’s hands as BCCI hunts for India coach

Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman will decide the future of Anil Kumble as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Kumble’s reign as India coach will finish at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy in June in UK.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has started hunt for a new coach for the Indian cricket team. Anil Kumble, who had a successful year-long stint with Virat Kohli’s team will finish at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy in UK in June.

Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli on day 4 of the fourth Test match between India and Australia in Dharamsala on March 28. Anil Kumble’s tenure as Indian cricket team coach ends in June 2017 after the completion of the ICC Champions Trophy in UK (BCCI)

The BCCI has invited applications from candidates for the head coach’s position. Kumble will be a direct entry.

Interestingly, Kumble has not got an automatic extension. Most successful coaches around the world get extensions after good stints with the national team.

Anil Kumble had a terrific time with the Indian cricket team. In 17 Tests, Anil Kumble saw India winning a dozen drawing four and losing just one against Australia. India even retained their No. 1 Test ranking.

The BCCI’s three-member Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman will select the head, according to a Board release today.

Last year, the BCCI advertised for the head coach’s job for the first time. While Ravi Shastri was the top contender for the post, Anil Kumble won the job.

Shastri, who was team director until India’s World T20 campaign ended in the semifinals, had the strong backing of Test skipper Virat Kohli.

The duo had struck a strong relationship since Virat Kohli took over as Test skipper in Australia in early 2015, and during the series wins in Sri Lanka and South Africa late last year.

Although too many candidates didn’t seem to respond to the advert initially, the game changed once Kumble put his name forward.

Kumble had captained all three of the BCCI cricket advisory committee members --- Ganguly, Tendulkar and Laxman --- and helped to reached out to his former teammates on what his plans to take the team forward were.