Bengaluru: Anil Kumble sat down with Indian test captain Virat Kohli and ODI captain MS Dhoni to discuss on the road map for taking Indian cricket forward for the coming days. Joining the three of them were India ‘A’ team coach Rahul Dravid, selection committee chairman Sandeep Patil, General Manager (Cricket Operations) MV Sridhar, NCA batting coach WV Raman and spin bowling coach Narendra Hirwani along with physio Andrew Leipus and Patrick Farhat.
It was learnt that the emphasis will be more on building cohesion between the ‘A’ teams and the senior teams. Indian ODI skipper Dhoni is believed to have given his inputs about what his assessment is about the bench-strength of the team as he led a side comprising mostly A team players.
It was also discussed in the meeting as to how to focus on seamless transition from first-class to ‘A’ level and then to the senior teams.
According to reliable sources, there were discussions on creating a pool of fast bowlers who could be rotated keeping in mind a long and arduous season ahead.
Leipus, who was the physio of the Indian team during the tenure of John Wright was invited to give his input on the injury management of the fast bowlers. Leipus will be working along with current Indian team physio Patrick Farhat.
Speaking on the meeting, President of the BCCI, Mr. Anurag Thakur said, “Idea was to bring all the stakeholders on the same page as we draw the path for the upcoming season of Indian Cricket. Based on their discussions and recommendations, BCCI will plan the future accordingly. This kind of brainstorming sessions will be a regular feature to streamline our efforts to take Indian cricket to new heights. ”
Honorary Secretary of the BCCI, Mr. Ajay Shirke, said: “All the key people who are working at various levels of Indian cricket were sitting on the same table. I am looking forward to some constructive feedback and suggestions coming from them which could be executed on the long term and short term basis.”
Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, Mr. Anil Kumble said, “This was a very fruitful exercise. Sitting here, we all have one intention and agenda: To align our actions to maximize the potential of Indian cricket. For that we all need to work as one unit. I am thankful to the BCCI for organizing such an initiative.”
According to a reliable source, the point of grooming budding spinners was also discussed. Spinners like Jayant Yadav, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal and Shahbaz Nadeem will be monitored so that they can be ready to put a stiff challenge to Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja and Amit Mishra.
Issues ranging from domestic cricket set up, India-A tours, injury management & workload of the players and strengthening the bench strength of Indian cricket were discussed in detail to synchronize the efforts of everyone working for the betterment of Indian cricket.
With the ‘A’ team travelling to Australia in August, it will be an important tour for the team management and especially Test captain Kohli and coach Kumble to identify who can be likely replacements for first team players in case there is injury or loss of form.
For spin coach Hirwani, it will be his duty to ensure that the spinners who are coming for NCA camps have clean action before they are taken under Dravid’s aegis at the U-19 national team level. WV Raman, the NCA batting coach, will need to co-ordinate more with Dravid, who is also the national U-19 coach.
The significant meeting took place at a city hotel after the Indian team had a match simulation session in Alur.