Diana Edulji questions Virat Kohli’s role in Anil Kumble removal as India coach
Diana Edulji, in no uncertain terms, has made it clear that Ramesh Powar should be given an extension as India’s women's team coach. Edulji cited that if Virat Kohli can be given his choice of coach, so why wouldn't Harmanpreet Kaur be extended the same privilege and be granted the coach she wants.
Upon the instruction of Vinod Rai, BCCI appointed Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad, and former women's Test player Shantha Rangaswamy to be part of the ad-hoc panel to select the next coach of the Indian women’s team But that was clearly against what Edulji wanted in the first place and she decided to reopen the Virat Kohli-Anil Kumble controversy to make her point.
The Kohli-Kumble saga was one of the most controversial chapters in the Indian cricket which resulted in the latter stepping
"The captain (Harmanpreet Kaur) and vice-captain (Smriti Mandhana) have requested their choice, so why can't we respect their choice till we get clarity on the committee? We can go ahead and continue with the same coach. The views of the two senior players must not be ignored," Edulji wrote in an email to Rai, reported Times of India.
"Virat did not accede to Kumble continuing in spite of the CAC (Cricket Advisory Committee) saying so, then why don't these two players (Harmanpreet and Mandhana) get what they feel is best for the team," she added.
Rai certainly didn’t agree with the same and replied to Edulji, saying, "If it is a question of respecting opinions of senior players then why not respect the opinion of the senior-most player - in
"There were differences between Virat and Kumble. As a consequence of that Kumble stepped back. More importantly, the team did not send emails. The team must realise that coaches are not decided on team votes," Rai wrote.
Edulji then replied saying, the players were truthful and they at least didn't send messages like Virat Kohli did send to Johri.
"I see nothing wrong in women cricketers writing e-mails regarding the coach. They were truthful in expressing their views unlike Virat who frequently sent
"There also I had objected and my dissent is recorded when the timelines were extended for someone to apply as he (Ravi Shastri) didn't apply in time. Mr. (Anil) Kumble a legend in his own right was subjected to loss of face and made to look like a villain. He was gracious enough to move on for which I respect him. There also, rules were broken and I had raised objections back then."
However, Rai appointing the ad-hoc committee was not the basis on which Rai and Edulji’s tug-war started. When Rai asked Johri to assume office after the former was proven not guilty of sexual harassment, Edulji opposed that and questioned Rai’s motive. Now, this was the tipping point as Edulji went on to accuse Rai of taking unilateral decisions.
"As chairman, he can't take any unilateral decisions as there is no casting vote for chairman. It is strange that in a democratic set-up of the CoA only views of one person are considered and the views expressed by other members who was also appointed by the Supreme Court along with you don't matter," Edulji said.
However, Rai made it clear that the procedure couldn’t be stopped now.
"We cannot now withdraw and say that we will continue with our ad-hoc coach of three months - who has been the reason for such bad blood in the team. This chapter has to be closed and the earlier the better," Rai made his point clear.
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