Kumble : MS Dhoni knows captaincy better than anybody else

Speaking to the TOI in an exclusive interview, Anil Kumble opened up about his first experience as the coach of the Indian team on West Indies tour.

“It was fruitful. I was welcomed by the team. Having played and mentored a few of them in various capacities in different franchises in the IPL, I mostly knew all of them personally too.

“A couple of them, people like Ishant, I had played with (for India). I guess initially with some of the players there was a little bit of hesitancy. That's why we created the drum-jam session which they obviously didn't expect. The two weeks prior to the first Test match in Antigua, when we were in St. Kitts, helped me know the team better and understand their requirements. It also allowed me to settle in gradually.

“In the West Indies, it is relaxed after games. So it is a lot easier to bond and be together as a team, unlike in England, Australia or South Africa or at home, where it is very difficult to get out and be together as a team. So, in that way I think West Indies was the perfect start,” Kumble said.

The hastily organized T20 series in Florida gave Kumble to opportunity to work with MS Dhoni long before he was originally scheduled to. The 45-year old praised the ODI skipper for his leadership skills, and insisted that there are no issues in having different captains for different formats.

“The first official interaction or the first coach-captain scenario with MS was supposed to be in October, but it got fast-tracked to Florida. It was only for five days. But MS has been the captain for the longest period in Indian cricket. He was brilliant. He obviously knows captaincy better than anybody else in terms of what the team requires. Having played with MS and knowing him really well, I don't think him coming in as captain for the limited-overs internationals will be an issue at all,” he added.

The former Indian international, who is the most successful spinner the nation has produced, also spoke about how he dealt with all the attention on him due to what he has achieved in the past as a player.

“I understand there is a lot of attention because of the stature and what I have been able to do as a player. That's the first thing I told the team.

“I said, 'Look, forget about what I have done as a player. Yes, it is there, but now I am the coach and I am like an elder brother to all of you. It's just that I have the experience and the wisdom, hopefully, of doing the right things or the wrong things over the last 18 years and that's something that you guys can just come in and ask. That I will share as we go along based on what we require on the field and off the field.' I know everybody else looks at it very differently but I certainly look at it that way. And with the players, it is going to take some time for them to look at it that way as well,” he explained.

Kumble has also lauded Virat Kohli for the unmatched professionalism he brings to the game and his work ethic.

“The last time I saw Kohli closely, working on his cricket, being a part of the squad, was with RCB in 2012. From 2012 to 2016, there is a massive difference. All the difference and change has been for the good. He's extremely professional in the way he goes about his game.

“I have not seen anyone this professional in terms of looking after his fitness, preparations and work ethic. He probably realized that to be a part of the international setup and to perform consistently, one needs to be like that, and he has done that. We can see all the good and hard work that he has put in has shown on the field. It clearly shows that he wants be the best and he leads from the front.

“His intensity is really good. He wants to win all the matches and that goes with everybody in the team. Virat obviously shows it as well on the field. His intensity and aggression is something that I would like to ask him to continue. He was brilliant on the tour. Obviously we were disappointed after the Jamaica Test match, we lost out on time and also we felt that we were in a great position to win the Test match.

“But immediately we learnt from that and in St. Lucia, when there was hardly any time to pick up 20 wickets, we managed to do that. That's credit to him and the team. The team responded brilliantly and he also showed as a captain that he had to be different. He is a quick learner and backs himself to execute,” Kumble said.