Anil Kumble is not losing his job as Team India coach. Or is he?
Call it sheer timing or just a coincidence, the decision to “look” for a India coach on the day the cricket team landed in England has made big news. In an age where news travels much faster and through multiple mediums, with social media acting as a catalyst, the first impression would be as if Anil Kumble’s job is on the line.
First things first, when Kumble was appointed as coach, it was till June 20, 2017. There was no way the officials of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) could have appointed him beyond that date as their own shelf life was fixed.
For the knowledgeable and the discerning, it’s very clear it has been a great tango between Kumble and cerebral captain Virat Kohli as they plotted huge wins in Test and ODI series since 2016. From beyond the boundary, Kohli gives an impression he is a man in complete control.
For the conservatives, his aggression on the field and being vocal sounded very un-Indian. But then, people have got used to a captain who has instilled faith in the boys. Those who saw good chemistry between Kohli and Ravi Shastri said it was a super pair and they could not be separated.
Once the Cricket Advisory Committee — Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman — handed over charge to Kumble, there was unanimity that he was the best man for the job.
To be sure, too much is being read between the lines about Kumble. Some of the tweets from even former India greats have been sensational as if Kumble is under pressure. Pray, for a man who led India with conviction and has done a wonderful job as coach, there is nothing wrong if he has to face an interview again.
Will there be other coaches who will throw their hats in the ring as this is like an open invitation?
There is nothing wrong if others apply for the coach’s job but Kumble would still have a huge edge based on performance and potential. If you have flipped through various news reports, there is a version doing the rounds that Kumble has asked for a salary hike, not just for the players but also himself.
To my mind, there is nothing wrong in that as cricket is a hugely market-driven sport and former coaches from abroad also came on their own terms and conditions. Had it been a "gora" coach asking for a crazy contract, nobody would have uttered a word. But when someone from home asks for more, there is brouhaha.
All professionals, in whatever spheres they work, do expect a wage hike on a yearly basis. Some get it and some don’t. Kumble has only asked for a hike but not said he will quit this job. So, there is a difference.
There are also reports that some BCCI officials are “unhappy” with Kumble as he has shown how important he is and has direct access to the CoA - Committee of Administrators. In the absence of any BCCI official coming on record and speaking, one needs to take all this with a huge pinch of salt.
The Cricket Advisory Committee will again meet Kumble and due process will be followed. Where there is seeming interference in cricket matters is how the CoA is behaving. Here is a body appointed by the Supreme Court whose main job was to cleanse cricket in India. Till date, the CoA has not been able to ensure that state cricket associations fall in line and hold their elections on the new guidelines prescribed by the Justice RM Lodha panel.
Instead of cleaning the Augean stables, the CoA is wasting time in other matters.
Just to jog the readers’ memory, when a high-profile Cricket Advisory Committee has been appointed, why is that they last met 11 months ago? If the CoA is losing sight of its main job, then they are not very different from former BCCI officials who had a myopic vision.
The CoA also needs to tell us why there was no similar process for hiring the women’s team coach. Not only was former India captain and coach Purnima Rau unceremoniously removed and replaced by Gujarat’s Tushar Arothe, none in the cricket establishment spoke to Purnima.
We talk of gender equality at large in society and it’s absent. Those who run cricket are no different. They allowed the women players to gang up against Purnima Rau and boot her out.
Team India will get on with their job and the officials in the BCCI will continue to play all kinds of games. Surely, the CoA needs to show they mean business and not get involved in matters beyond their purview.
(Courtesy of Mail Today.)