Published 12:04 IST, October 24th 2019
Virat Kohli-Anil Kumble spat: Vinod Rai makes a huge statement
Vinod Rai had made a huge statement on the alleged rift between Indian skipper Virat Kohli and former coach Anil Kumble. He had resigned from the post in 2017.
Virat Kohli was made Team India's full-time captain in January 2017 when MS Dhoni had stepped down from the post. Till then, Kohli was leading India in the longest format of the game and just months before he became the limited-overs captain, he had led India to the summit of the ICC Test rankings. When the batting superstar was made the full-time captain, Anil Kumble was the head coach of the Indian team back then. Kumble was made the national team's head coach in 2016. Meanwhile, former CoA chief Vinod Rai has made a big claim on their spat.
Vinod Rai on Kumble-Kohli spat
Anil Kumble's tenure as India's head coach hardly lasted for a year as he stepped down from the position after the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. It was rumoured that there was an alleged rift between both of them and they also had a difference of opinions. Speaking to a daily publication, Vinod Rai, whose tenure as the CoA chief ended on Wednesday said that he would have extended the spin legend's contract provided it had an extension clause. Rai then added that had such a scenario taken place today then Sourav Ganguly (The current BCCI President) would have thrust Anil Kumble down Virat Kohli's throat. He further added that it could have made matters worse and hailed Kumble for walking out on his own. At the same time, Vinod Rai had also mentioned that he has too much respect and regard for Kumble and that the former Indian captain and the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket was the best coach available.
If rumours are to be believed then Kohli and Kumble were involved in a difference of opinion prior to the Champions Trophy final against arch-rivals Pakistan regarding what had to be done after winning the toss. Pakistan had outplayed India in that contest to win their maiden ICC Champions Trophy title.
India under Virat Kohli's captaincy
Under Virat Kohli, India have been the best Test side, especially in home conditions as they are yet to lose a series since 2012-13. India have remained the top-ranked side in red-ball cricket since October 2016. Currently, Virat Kohli & Co. are comfortably placed at the summit of the ICC World Test Championship points table with 240 points in five matches. It was under his captaincy that India won their first-ever Test and bilateral ODI series in Australia. Even though India are yet to win an ICC title under Virat's reign, he has led them to the knockouts of two ICC events. Apart from the Champions Trophy, India had finished as the semi-finalists in World Cup 2019.
Updated 13:35 IST, October 24th 2019