Internet Desk: Is it troubled waters for the Indian team ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy? According to reports there seems to be a rift between coach Anil Kumble and the senior cricketers led by Captain Virat Kohli. The news comes at a time when the reigning champions are preparing to start their campaign in ICC Champions Trophy against arch rivals Pakistan on June 4.
According to sources in the BCCI, the senior officials in the board are not too happy with Kumble. The Head Coach of the Indian team recently met Vinod Rai , chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators before leaving for England to request him for a hike in the payments of the Indian cricketers. Sources say that the cricketers demanded 5 crore for Grade A contract. Indian captain Virat Kohli’s opinion was also taken when Kumble met with Rai over video conferencing.
The Indian captain had met the former BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke few months back before the New Zealand series and requested for a hike in the salary.
The BCCI officials are not very happy with the approach of Anil Kumble. The board sent an advertisement for the appointment of new coach of the Indian team on May 25; the day after Kumble met Mr Rai. Kumble’s contract with the BCCI terminates with the Champions Trophy.
Few members in the board are trying to establish that Kumble is a hard task master. According to reports Kohli is not too keen working with Kumble on a long term basis. But the question is why Virat will suddenly have rifts with Kumble after the success they shared in the last one year. The combination won six consecutive test series starting with the series against Sri Lanka.
It is understood that Vinod Rai, chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), is likely to meet the three-member panel to discuss the issue.
Sources said Kohli had a word with Ganguly after the practice game against New Zealand on Sunday and may have discussed the issue at length.
The three member advisory panel headed by Sourav Ganguly has been entrusted to broker peace between Kumble and Kohli’s men. The advisory committee has also been entrusted with the job of naming the next India coach. Kumble was considered the front-runner for an extension till the 2019 World Cup, with Team India having won everything under him in the past one year. So, what has suddenly gone wrong?
With Virender Sehwag reportedly refusing to take the job and Ravi Shastri also not showing enough interest, there are not too many candidates to take the job. Sources say Australia’s Tom Moody could be a possible applicant again, but a section in BCCI wants Rahul Dravid to apply for the job. There is, however, no development on that front either.