Anil Kumble had stepped down from his role as Indian coach following India’s humiliating defeat to Pakistan in June 2017 Champions Trophy final, after declaring that Virat Kohli had reservations about his style. The infamous fallout between the former India skipper Virat Kohli and ex-India head coach Anil Kumble in 2017 remains one of the “darkest phases” of Indian cricket.
Former Team India manager Ratnakar Shetty revealed this in his book ‘On Board: Test.Trial.Triumph. My years in BCCI‘, that the conversation regarding Anil Kumble’s exit had started months before and was “taken aback” when former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag informed him about the same during an IPL match.
Ratnakar Shetty: Anil Kumble Was Shocked As Vinod Rai Said The Process To Appoint Coach Would Be Repeated Soon
Ratnakar Shetty recalled meeting legendary batsmen openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag during an IPL game in Wankhede Stadium when the latter had informed that Dr Maturi Venkat Sridhar, former BCCI General Manager, had advised him to apply for the role of head coach of the Indian cricket team.
“The events leading up to the resignation of Anil Kumble as coach of the men’s team after the ICC Champions Trophy final in June 2017 showcased the murkiness that had steadily crept into the corridors of the Cricket Centre.
“I happened to meet Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar at the Wankhede Stadium, on the eve of an IPL game between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, in the second week of May. I was taken aback when Viru informed me that Dr Sridhar had advised him to apply for the position of the coach of the Indian team,” he wrote.
Ratnakar Shetty further revealed that BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) had held a meeting a day before the IPL final in 2017 where it was shockingly announced that the process of finding the new head coach of the Indian team will be followed soon. The words had left Anil Kumble shocked.
“I flew to Hyderabad a few days later for the IPL final. The game was preceded by a meeting of the CoA. Anil and Virat Kohli, who by then had become the all-format captain, were to make a presentation on the way forward for Indian cricket, at this meeting.
“Both Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji (Committee of Administrators) were attending. Anil was present physically, while Virat was to participate virtually. Rai then asked me what process had been followed by the Board to appoint a coach for the national team in 2016.”
“What happened next was shocking. Rai said in front of the entire gathering, Anil included, that the same process would have to be repeated soon! Anil was stunned and so was I. I remembered my conversation with Viru in May and told Anil about it. Surely, Dr Sridhar would not have told Viru to apply of his own volition,” he added.
In 2017, less than a year after taking over as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, Anil Kumble stepped down in a dramatic turn of events citing an ‘untenable’ relationship with Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli Wasn’t Happy With Anil Kumble For Not Standing Up For The Players And Creating A Tense Atmosphere: Ratnakar Shetty
Ratnakar Shetty also revealed the details of the meeting that the BCCI members had along with then skipper Virat Kohli ahead of the 2017 Champions Trophy final saying that the then skipper wasn’t happy with then-coach Anil Kumble not standing up for the players and for creating a tense atmosphere in the dressing room.
“It was obvious that some people did not want Anil to continue as coach. The captain and coach did not appear to be on the same wavelength and it seemed that the captain had the upper hand. I learnt later about a meeting that took place in London before the final of the Champions Trophy, which we lost to Pakistan.
“This meeting was attended by Virat, Anil, Johri, Amitabh Choudhary and Dr Sridhar. Apparently, Virat was not happy with Anil ‘for not standing up for the players and creating a tense atmosphere in the dressing room’, among other things.”
Anil Kumble had termed his relationship with Virat Kohli “untenable”, and in interaction with former Zimbabwean cricketer Pommie Mbangwa, he had admitted that the “end could have been better.” Anil Kumble’s resignation came after India’s one-sided defeat to Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy final in 2017.