Greats lament Kumble exit
Post this intimation, I was informed for the first time yesterday by the BCCI that the Captain had reservations with my 'style' and about my continuing as the Head Coach. I was surprised since I had always respected the role boundaries between Captain and Coach. Though the BCCI attempted to resolve the misunderstandings between the Captain and me, it was apparent that the partnership was untenable, and I therefore believe it is best for me to move on. -- From Kumble's statement
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar lamented a "sad day" after Anil Kumble stepped down as India coach over a rift with captain Virat Kohli, leaving the hotseat vacant once again.
Kumble said Tuesday his position was "untenable" after Kohli questioned his leadership style and told the Indian board he had reservations about the spin legend extending his one-year stay.
Since Duncan Fletcher left in March 2015, India, currently the world's top Test team, have struggled for stability with Ravi Shastri and Sanjay Bangar both taking on temporary roles before Kumble's reign.
"I have very little knowledge about the differences between Virat and Anil. But it is a really sad day for Indian cricket," Gavaskar told NDTV.
"India have won everything since the time Anil took over," he added. "I can't see Anil doing much wrong in one year. Differences [can] happen in any team but see the results."
India suffered a humiliating defeat to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday, but Kumble also helped them reclaim the number-one Test ranking and maintained an unblemished record in five Test series.
Former India captain and coach Bishan Singh Bedi also signalled his disappointment, tweeting: "If there's more intelligent/committed Crkt analyser than @anilkumble 1074 on Indn horizon (we are) ignorant really!"
Former India opener Virender Sehwag and Australia's Tom Moody are reported to be among the possible replacements for Kumble.
Sehwag, who seems to be the frontrunner for the job, believes it would be tough for anyone to match Kumble's success as coach.
"The way this Indian team has performed under his coaching, I doubt whether anybody else will be able to replicate his success," Sehwag told UC News, an online data provider.
"I don't know about his coaching style but as a player, as an individual and as a senior he is just brilliant," said Sehwag, who played under Kumble's Test captaincy.
NEW COACH BEFORE SL TOUR
Acting president of the BCCI CK Khanna said yesterday that India would get a new coach before the tour of India next month, while conceding that the board failed to resolve the problems between Kumble and Kohli.
"Team India will get his new head coach before tour to Sri Lanka. The assignment of the new head coach will be till the next World Cup to be held in June 2019 in England," said BCCI acting president CK Khanna.
Another top BCCI official, Rajeev Shukla, said all possible efforts were made to sort out the issues between the captain and the coach.
When asked whether Virat Kohli was the only one who objected to Kumble as coach, Shukla said: "All these are speculation. As I said, sometimes there are differences of opinion and BCCI tried its level best to resolve the whole issue but sometimes things don't work. Sometimes it happens that you can't get along with someone.
"It is not that captain is given all the importance. We give importance to everybody. There are differences sometimes. They are also human beings," Shukla added.