Former Indian senior men’s team manager Ratnakar Shetty recalled the yet controversial Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli saga in Indian cricket back in 2017 and revealed details of the chaotic few months which ultimately ended with the legendary spinner’s resignation as head coach. While the fans outside believe the relationship between the two Indian greats reached an […]
Former Indian senior men’s team manager Ratnakar Shetty recalled the yet controversial Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli saga in Indian cricket back in 2017 and revealed details of the chaotic few months which ultimately ended with the legendary spinner’s resignation as head coach.
While the fans outside believe the relationship between the two Indian greats reached an irrevocable point following India’s loss in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Shetty unveiled that Kumble’s departure was set on course from the end of the IPL 2017.
Shetty revealed the details of the sad fallout between Kohli and Kumble in his book ‘On Board: Test.Trial.Triumph’, specifically the back and forth that led to the head coach leaving his post only a year into his tenure.
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The Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli fallout remains one of the saddest points in Indian cricket. (pic courtesy: Twitter)
In his book, Shetty spoke about a successive set of meetings through which he first learnt that something is brewing inside the set-up against Anil Kumble. The first was at the sidelines of an IPL match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and the then Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) where he met Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Sehwag, in a chat with Shetty, told him that he has been asked to apply for the head coach’s position.
Soon, this was followed by another meeting after the final of the IPL 2017 in Hyderabad where Committee of Administrators (COA) members Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji talked to Kumble in presence, while Kohli joined in virtually.
“What happened next was shocking. Rai said in front of the entire gathering, Anil included, that the same process (of appointing the head coach) would have to be repeated soon! Anil was stunned and so was I,” Shetty wrote in his book.
“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.
Through this back and forth, and being around the team, Shetty said it became very clear that “some people” did not want Anil Kumble to continue as head coach, adding that the captain and the coach weren’t at the same “wavelength” on how to take the team forward.
“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,” he wrote.
“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,” Shetty disclosed.
Kumble, as is known, resigned from his post citing an “untenable” relationship with Kohli at the helm.
