In a major news coming out of the Indian team, it is learnt that Anil Kumble, the Head Coach of Indian cricket team, didn’t travel with the squad to West Indies for the limited overs series. He will join the squad later, after attending the meeting of ICC in London.
ICC meet is all set to kick off from today i.e. June 20 and is expected to conclude on June 23, the day when Indian team will take on West Indies in the first ODI. Kumble is expected to join the squad before the start of the second ODI Sunday.
This will be the second time in the second year when India will travel to West Indies for series as last year as well, India travelled to the country for four Test match series, which the visitors won by a margin of 2-0.
Incidentally, it was that series which was the first tour for Anil Kumble as the Head Coach of the side and it can turn out to be the last one for him as well. As per reports, Virat Kohli has clearly expressed to CAC that he does not want Kumble back as the coach of the side again and want him to be removed due to the differences between the two.
This has now left CAC and BCCI in a tizzy as going by performance, no one can question Kumble’s place in the backroom staff but with the captain himself expressing displeasure towards the coach, it will be interesting to the step taken by the board.
The new coach is expected to be announced during or soon after the end of West Indies series. Virender Sehwag is leading the race for the job as Virat Kohli has himself asked former aggressive batsman to apply for the job. Tom Moody and Lalchand Rajput are also strong contenders.
The new coach or Kumble, if re-appointed, will be given a contract of full two years till World Cup 2019.