Virat Kohli’s opinion on coach selection must be respected, reckons Kapil Dev

With the deadline for receiving applications for a spot on India’s coaching and support staff now over, all the attention will be focussed on the three-member Cricket Advisory Committee responsible for making the important decision. The contracts of the present staff ran out with the conclusion of the World Cup and an extension granted to them will only run until the end of the Carribean Tour. 

Kapil Dev, head of the committee, echoed fellow member Shantha Rangaswamy’s sentiments when he said that skipper Virat Kohli has every right to express his preference for the crucial role. Kohli in a press conference had boldly stated that he would love to have the incumbent Ravi Shastri continue as team manager until the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.

“That’s his [Kohli’s] opinion, we have to respect everybody’s opinion,” Kapil told reporters, reported TOI.

All the present members of the staff will automatically be added to the list of the external applicants as possibilities for appointment to the team’s personnel. Anshuman Gaekwad is also a part of three member committee and Kapil Dev feels their job isn’t as difficult as it may seem.before receiving the ‘Bharat Gaurav’, East Bengal’s highest honour during their foundation day celebrations at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.

“It’s not tough. You just do your job to the best of your ability,” he said.

He is presently in Kolkata where he will be receiving the ‘Bharat Gaurav,’ East Bengal’s highest honour at its centenary celebrations, which is supposed to span over multiple years. He was in the company of former and present Indian captains Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri who will also be felicitated at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. He had played some exhibition matches for the club 27 years ago in 1992 and has always adored the club and its fanbase.

“Tradition is everything. If tradition was not there we would not have been recognised as a Bengali, Punjabi, South Indian, Tamilian. So we have a tradition that’s why we are here. We respect Wimbledon because they have a tradition way of playing on grass. Don’t lose your tradition whichever side you come from. I am more fascinated with the fans than the team as they have been supporting the club for 100 years,” Dev said.

He revealed that Argentine legend Diego Maradona was his favourite footballer, who is most fondly remembered for heroics in the 1982 World Cup that led his team to the title.

“When the ball was on his feet, he was the quickest among all the athletes. He could run faster than anybody else. That’s what I used to look up to him,” he concluded.