Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble responsible enough to deal with ‘rift’: Sourav Ganguly

Anil Kumble’s future as Indian cricket team coach is uncertain after reports of a ‘rift’ with skipper Virat Kohli emerged. Sourav Ganguly feels one should adopt a wait and watch policy

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who is also part of the Cricket Advisory Committee, has urged captain Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble to deal with the current crisis in a professional manner.

Sourav Ganguly (right) played a key role in Anil Kumble’s appointment as the head coach of the Indian cricket team last year. Kumble’s term as national coach ends at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy(AFP/Getty Images)

Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble have been at a flash point after their differences were reportedly made known by the India skipper during a meeting with the BCCI officials and the Committee of Administrators on the sidelines of the IPL final.

“Just deal with it. You’re a name, you’re captain of India, you’re coach of India, you’ll have to deal with this,” Ganguly was quoted by Wisden India website when asked about his suggestion to deal with the problems between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli.

‘Keep quiet and play the game’

“Just keep quiet and play the game. I don’t know (if it’s affecting the players). Whether there is uncertainty or not, I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. All of us can talk. But there are two exceptional cricketers: Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble. They’re responsible cricketers. They know what they’re doing,” added Ganguly, who was instrumental in roping in Kumble as a Cricket Advisory Committee member.

Anil Kumble was a last minute entrant in the coach’s race and also did not fit in the criteria laid down by the BCCI for the post.

Virat Kohli and former captain Saurav Ganguly share a light moment during a training session at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 18, 2016. (AFP/Getty Images)

Sourav Ganguly quashed media reports which stated that the former India skipper, in his capacity as a CAC member, spoke to various team members at Edgbaston where the team trained indoors on Friday to take stock of the situation.

“I’ve been at the ground since 8.00 am. I’m supposed to have spoken to players, spoken to Virat Kohli. I’ve not done it one bit, and neither am I keen to,” he said.

‘Look at Cristiano Ronaldo’

“Everybody faces controversy. Just deal with it and move on. You should not worry about it. Professionals find a way. Look at (Cristiano) Ronaldo. He’s in controversies every week but he comes and takes Real Madrid to the Champions League final.”

Ganguly refused to divulge anything about CAC’s future course of action. “I don’t know…we’ll see what happens,” he said.

“You need to hear from the right people and not by what’s going around. You need to hear from them what it is, what they want, what’s the way forward and then deal with it. It’s too early at this stage. We are in the middle of the ICC Champions Trophy.

“Sometimes, small things just get blown out of proportion. When you have two friends sit in a media box and talk, you have a different opinion about a player, he has a different opinion. But that doesn’t mean you don’t get along. That’s life,” he added.