Would have extended Anil Kumble's contract had there been an extension clause, reveals Vinod Rai
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The outgoing head of CoA Vinod Rai has spoken about the captain-coach controversy between skipper Virat Kohli and the then head coach Anil Kumble and said that Kumble was the best coach available. The ascension of Sourav Ganguly as BCCI president put an end to CoA's 33-month control over the BCCI.
The outgoing head of CoA Vinod Rai has finally revealed his side of the story of the captain-coach rift between skipper Virat Kohli and the then head coach Anil Kumble. Under Kumble's guidance, India was at its peak in all formats, especially Tests, but the former skipper had an unfortunate exit from the team's administration, as he was forced to leave after an ugly spat with skipper Kohli. Talking about his exit, Rai said that he would have extended Kumble's stay had it been possible.
"Anil Kumble was the best coach available. If his contract had an extension clause, I would have extended it. I have too much respect and regard for Kumble. But since there was no extension clause and since I wasn’t equipped to decide, we fell back on CAC. We inherited the CAC, not created it," India Today quoted Rai as saying.
Dwelling deeper into the issue, Rai also went on to mention what transpired between him, Cricket Advisory Committee and the coach captain duo during the Champions Trophy of 2017.
"I had a long chat with Sachin then and Sourav now. I met Sachin in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy they were meeting Kumble and Virat And I told Sachin I had a long chat with Virat (when he was in Mumbai and I was in Hyderabad) on the telephone. I barely knew Virat then. I told Sachin, I felt he was not willing to accept that Kumble continues. So you people have a word with him. Coming from people of your stature, you may be able to persuade him’. I know Sachin and Sourav spoke to him. Sourav told me recently that they had a long chat with him. If they couldn’t persuade him how could I?
"Look, if there is a difference in the dressing room between captain and coach, who is more dispensable? Obviously, the coach. That’s where we got caught. Dirty linen got washed in public. Ramachandra Guha resigned (as CoA member). The same thing arose with the issue of Mithali Raj and Ramesh Powar. Dissonance in the dressing room and we had to fall back on CAC again. There was so much controversy. Who could have handled it better? If this had happened today, Sourav would have thrust Kumble down Virat’s throat. But it could have created more tensions. I respected Kumble because he walked out," said Rai.
