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Anil Kumble steps down as Indian cricket team head coach
Kumble has left his post as India boss following the team's ICC Champions Trophy campaign, which saw them lose the final to Pakistan.
Anil Kumble has stepped down as the Indian cricket team’s head coach after the Blues lost to Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy final by 180 runs.
The former spinner and captain did not travel with the team to West Indies, where India are set to play five ODIs and a lone T20 match.
Kumble had a one-year contract that expired at the end of the Champions Trophy, and, according to a statement made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he was offered an extension, which he rejected.
"Mr Anil Kumble has withdrawn his services as the post of the Head Coach for the Senior India Men’s team. While the Cricket Advisory Committee had endorsed an extension to his tenure as Head Coach, Mr Anil Kumble has decided not to continue as the coach," said the BCCI.
"Intimidating style"
Kumble was appointed head coach of India in June 2016. In his first assignment, India completed a Test series victory in West Indies.
During his command, India won 10 of the 13 Tests in their home season. Reverses came only in a T20 series against West Indies in the USA and at the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy.
Despite a considerably successful year, several players, including captain Virat Kohli, told BCCI officials that they felt uncomfortable with Kumble’s "intimidating style".
On Monday, Kohli met with BCCI officials and with Kumble in London. According to a board official, "It was not a pleasant meeting."
"The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) is likely to have told BCCI that the differences were not cricketing related but more of a personal nature. If he were to stick on, it would be very awkward on Anil's part. It is not good to handle someone as big as Anil in this manner," said the official.
Applications have already begun
Days before the start of the Champions Trophy, the BCCI invited several names to apply for the job.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag was requested by the Board to join the application process, while Sunrisers Hyderbad mentor Tom Moody, Afghanistan trainer Lalchand Rajpu, former Blues’ bowler Dodda Ganesh and ex-Pakistan and Bangladesh coach Richard Pybus have already applied for the job.