On the heels of India’s massive loss in the finals of the Champions Trophy, bowling coach Anil Kumble has resigned, citing irreconcilable differences with skipper Virat Kohli. Kumble, in his statement attached to a tweet saying “Thank You”, confirmed months of swirling rumours of his spat with Kohli, stating that he was informed of the reservations the captain had with his style only by the CAC comprising Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly. “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”, Kumble said.
Thank you! pic.twitter.com/eF5qVzdBRj
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) June 20, 2017
The BCCI had extended Kumble’s contract to the end of the Windies tour, though his contract was originally up at the end of the Champions Trophy. However, it was a surprise when Kumble was not on the plane with the team to the Carribean Islands on Tuesday. Team India left for the island nations immediately after the Champions Trophy from England. There were attempts by the BCCI officials to reconcile differences between the two, as Kumble said in a statement earlier that he would rejoin the team after attending an ICC meeting by June 23. These seem to have failed, and the bowling coach looks set to be going out.
There were also many reactions to Kumble’s resignation, with Olympic gold medallist leading the pack with a tongue-in-cheek swipe at Kohli, tweeting “My biggest teachers was coach Uwe.I hated him!But stuck with him for 20 years.He always told me things I did not want to hear.#justsaying.”
My biggest teachers was coach Uwe.I hated him!But stuck with him for 20 years.He always told me things I did not want to hear.#justsaying
— Abhinav Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) June 20, 2017
It remains to be seen when the Indian team will get a new bowling coach, but the controversy with Kumble, ever the gentleman, has come at a bad time for the Kohli who is fresh off the Pakistan loss.
