LONDON: On a day when it emerged that Anil Kumble is set to accompany the India team for their short tour of the Caribbean soon after the Champions Trophy, selectors are contemplating if they should rest Virat Kohli for the series.
This comes in the backdrop of speculations about rift between the captain and coach. Even the Committee of Administrators (CoA) are planning to hold talks with Kumble and Kohli to try and break the ice after the semifinal against Bangladesh on Thursday.
However, according to sources this is not the reason for resting Kohli. The India captain apparently, had a busy season, and missed only one Test and four IPL matches due to shoulder injury. Selectors are tempted to hand him a break before the team departs for Sri Lanka in August for a Test series. India are likely to send a second-string side for the five-match ODI series against West Indies that begins on June 23.
It has been reliably learned that in case Kohli is rested, Ajinkya Rahane might take over. Rahane is part of the Champions Trophy squad as a back-up opener, and it would be interesting to see if the selectors name Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in the squad for West Indies.
MS Dhoni is almost certain, and indications are such that a few bowlers might also be rested.
The CoA met in New Delhi on Monday, and most of the talks were regarding the state units’ compliance with Lodha recommendations by July 14. It has been understood that they also discussed Kumble’s future as coach, and that they will request him to stay as coach till the Caribbean tour, as there is no time for a replacement to come in.
The meeting was attended by Vinod Rai, Diana Edulji, Vikram Limaye, with BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary and CEO Rahul Johri also present. They seemed to have been on the same page. It has also been reliably learned that Rai will fly to London before the final to hold crucial talks.
“Rai will request Kumble to be in charge till the series. The CoA has been told of the developments. They are also aware that CAC wants Kumble to continue as coach, and they also see no wrong in it. So after the semifinal, Rai will meet Kohli and Kumble separately or even together behind closed doors to break the ice,” a source who attended the meeting told Express.