
We wanted Anil Kumble to continue as India coach but he wanted to quit: VVS Laxman
BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee member and batting legend VVS Laxman on Friday said that their panel wanted Anil Kumble to continue as India’s coach but the former captain was bent on quitting after his fallout with skipper Virat Kohli last year.
Reflecting on the tumultuous phase that gripped Indian cricket during last year’s Champions Trophy, Laxman said the episode left a “bitter taste in the mouth”.
“I don’t think Kohli crossed the line. We at the CAC thought Anil should continue as coach but he thought the right decision was to quit and move ahead. It left a bitter taste in the mouth,” Laxman said at the ‘India Today South Conclave’ in Visakhapatnam.
READ: Why Gary Kirsten was not appointed head coach of Indian women’s cricket team
The CAC, comprising Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, picked Kumble as national coach in 2016.
However, the appointment didn’t quite work out as Kumble and Kohli’s difference of opinions spiralled into a full-blown public fallout which culminated into Kumble stepping down.
The former captain went on to say that his relationship with Kohli had become untenable.
READ: ‘I’ve been glued to my TV’ - Glenn Maxwell in awe of India cricketer
“What I did not like was the way he was getting bad press during the Champions Trophy. The CAC wanted Anil to continue and the entire episode was very unfortunate, Laxman said.
“I always tell people CAC are not marriage counsellors. We were tasked with selecting the best possible job. We did a very elaborate process - unfortunately, Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble did not work out,” he added.

Prithvi Shaw slams double ton in Vijay Hazare Trophy, 7th highest List A score
- The 21-year-old opening batsman slammed a double century off just 142 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's premier domestic 50-over tournament, against Puducherry.

Ind vs Eng Live Score, 3rd Test, Day 2: Can India bat England out of the game?
- IND vs ENG 3rd Test, Day 2 Live Cricket Score: After bowling out England for just 112, Team India is batting on 99/3 with Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane on the crease. Follow all updates of India vs England 3rd Test here.

'He's aware of his strength': Gavaskar explains how Axar excelled in third Test
- Axar also became the first bowler to bag a five-wicket haul at the revamped stadium in Ahmedabad. It is his second five-for in just his second Test for Team India.

Vaughan slams England’s team selection 'against the best team in the world'
- In spite of facing one of the best teams in the world, England have continued to rotate the squad in the Test series against India and this has not gone down well with former players.

New Zealand edges Australia by four runs in 2nd T20

TV umpire bit too quick for my liking: Manjrekar on umpiring calls in 3rd Test
- IND vs ENG: Gill was adjudged not out which left Stokes bemused while England captain Joe Root and Broad were seen in an animated discussion with the on-field umpire.

Axar Patel: The perfect replacement
- After three innings bowling in whites for the very first time, Patel has returned 2/40, 5/60 and 6/38. Suffice to say, he has surpassed expectations, perhaps his own.

Why did England pick four pacers for a spinning track?
- In its brief history, day-night Tests have tended to assist fast bowlers. In the 15 day-night Tests that have been played around the world before the ongoing match, fast bowlers have taken 354 wickets at an average of 24.47, and spinners 115 wickets at 35.38.

Root & Silverwood meet match referee over 'unusually quick' TV umpire decisions
- "The England captain and head coach spoke with the match referee after play," an England team spokesperson said in the report.

Axar reveals what helped him picking up 6 wickets against England in 3rd Test
- It was his second five-for in just his second Test for Team India. By doing so, the 27-year-old spinner also became only the third Indian bowler to take a 5-wicket haul in his first two matches.

'Wrong shot selection': Gavaskar weighs in on young India opener's dismissal
- Gill shone bright in the series down under and scored a half century in the first innings of the first Test against England but has been guilty of giving his wicket away a couple of times in the series already.

Axar sizzles with six on home turf as India take early command

Mohammad Hafeez declines PCB central contract offer

Ben Stokes dropped catch brings soft signal rule in focus
- The TV umpire overruled the “Out” soft signal (on-field umpires’ own call before technology adjudicates) and the incident renewed the debate whether soft signal can be an informed decision with very limited reaction time for the umpires on ground.
