The story:
Former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten has ruled himself out of the race to become Team India’s next coach. The 49-year old was in charge of the Indian team from 2008 to 2011 and had enjoyed unprecedented success, guiding the team to ICC World Cup in 2011 and the pinnacle of Test rankings. And with Anil Kumble stepping down as Team India coach in unceremonious fashion, Kirsten was linked with the high-profile job. However, the South African has said he is not in a position currently to consider a full-time post.
(READ: Gary Kirsten recalls how MS Dhoni stood for him against Indian Air Force)
“Thanks for your thoughtful consideration of my potential involvement with Indian cricket. I really did enjoy the experience. I’m not in a position currently, to consider a full-time post across all formats,” Kirsten was quoted as saying by India Today.
The background:
With Anil Kumble resigning all of a sudden, citing Virat Kohli’s issues with his style of functioning, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), last week, extended the timeline for submission of applications for the post to July 9.
The board has advertised for the same post last month but decided to extend the deadline on the assumption that a number of eligible candidates might not have applied since Kumble himself had re-applied. The new applicants will, meanwhile, join the already shortlisted candidates – Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Richard Pybus, Lalchand Rajput and Dodda Ganesh while Kumble was a direct entry. However, he is now out of the race after quitting the job.
Meanwhile, former team director Ravi Shastri has also thrown his hat in the ring. The former India player was in contention to become the coach last year after an impressive spell as the director but the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman had selected Kumble ahead of him.
‘No top player would want to become coach after Kumble’s resignation’
Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar feels that no top player would apply for India head coach’s post after Kumble’s acrimonious exit. Kumble has had a very successful stint with the team, guiding them to Test series wins over West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia in addition to the final of the Champions Trophy. However, the Indian players especially Virat Kohli were not happy with his way of functioning, forcing India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests to step down.
“What happened to Anil Kumble was sad, very sad indeed. The Indian cricket legend was humiliated, to say the least. No top player will want to throw his hat in the ring after what happened to Kumble. It is clear that the Indian players want people who sit back and do nothing rather than go-getters who get results,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar Live.