Indian coach Anil Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli | PTI
LONDON: In the end, Virat Kohli’s differences with Anil Kumble proved decisive. The coach was asked by BCCI officials to “sort things out” with the captain. It has been reliably learnt that Kumble refused, asking why he should sort things out when he didn’t have a problem with anyone. Finally, his tenure with the India team ended under controversial circumstances. Express managed to find what transpired moments before Kumble chose to step down.
With no solution in sight, Kumble apparently chose to stay back in England for an ICC meeting, where the Cricket Committee headed by him gets together on June 22. Kumble had been booked to travel with the team for the West Indies. The rest of the squad left London for Barbados on Tuesday.
“Amitabh Chowdhry (acting BCCI secretary) met Kumble and Kohli in England during the Champions Trophy. Kumble said he has no issues with anybody in the team,” sources close to developments said. But it was learnt that Kohli expressed reservations and when asked to sort differences out with Kohli, Kumble said the BCCI should be doing this, since he has no problems with the team.
Kumble later confirmed this through a note after stepping down where he said, “I was informed for the first time yesterday (Monday) by the BCCI that the captain had reservations with my ‘style’ and about my continuing as the Head Coach.”
The advisory committee of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman also met Kohli. The response they got was not encouraging, following which they aborted plans of having another meeting with Kumble.
