Here's How Anil Kumble Beat Ravi Shastri To The Post Of India Head Coach

AFP

Cricket Association of Bengal chief and former India captain Sourav Ganguly and former chief justice of India R M Lodha played a big role in the appointment of Anil Kumble as team India coach replacing incumbent Ravi Shastri on Thursday.

The men who took the decision

While Ganguly, who had one year ago lost to Shastri in his own quest to become the coach, spared no effort to make sure that the latter did not get a second term, Justice Lodha, who, as the head of Supreme Court appointed committee, has recommended sweeping reforms in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), played an indirect role in Kumble's ascension.

bccl

Justice Lodha, among his many anti-dotes for the ills besetting the cricket board had recommended setting up of a players' association and suggested that Kumble be made its member.

BCCI's strategy

The BCCI by appointing Kumble India coach hit two targets with one stone - it killed the possibility of him becoming a member of the players' body and also asserted its independence in taking decisions. Shastri would have in all likelihood won a second term had it not been for Ganguly relentless campaigning for Kumble. In fact, Shastri deserved an extension after having turned the Men in Blue world beaters in the 18 months he was the coach.

bccl

The last two years

India under his stewardship became the world's No. 1 Test team, bagged the no. 2 slot in ODIs, and T20s. He also took India to the semi-final stage of the World Cup and the World Twenty20. Asia Cup title, series win against South Africa at home and a rare away series win against Sri Lanka were some of his other achievements. But what he could never win was Dada's confidence.

The gulf between Ganguly & Shastri

Ganguly and Shastri were never the best of buddies. When the latter bagged the coaching job in 2015 despite Ganguly wanting it for himself, the gulf widened. Ganguly was not even present when Shastri made his presentation to the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) two days back. This despite the venue of the CAC deliberations being shifted from Mumbai to Kolkata on his insistence. When Shastri was hooked via video link from Bangkok, where he is currently holidaying, Ganguly was conspicuous by his absence in the Taj Bengal conference room. The BCCI members say it was because Ganguly had to attend his book release function elsewhere in the city. The former team director was interviewed by Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, and Sanjay Jagdale, the other three members of the CAC.

The CAC was divided over Kumble and Shastri with Ganguly backing his former teammate, while other members contending that there should be strong reason to remove Shastri, who is believed to have presented a strong case for himself, relying heavily on the team's success under his leadership.

bccl

But Ganguly was not too favourably disposed towards Shastri. Kumble's name did not figure in the shortlisted 21 applicants for failing to meet the specified qualification (one of the requirements for a candidate was experience in coaching a state or national team), but Ganguly demanded that Kumble's name be restored.

But Shastri isn't a sour loser

When contacted, Ravi Shastri did not want to project himself as a sour loser. "My best wishes to Anil and his team and I wish him all the luck. It is time to move on," Shastri told this paper from Bangkok. Shastri, however, said he is proud of his performance and rated the team's achievements under him as the best in his cricketing career.

"There is a time for everything. You did your job and you hold your head high. My conscience is clear that I put my best foot forward and tried my best. Results in the last 18 months speak for themselves. My performance in this period is something that I will treasure all my life," the former Team India director said.

Shastri, who took over as Team India director in September 2014, said he was happy for the young Indian players and he would remain proud of them. "When I took over all this success was not expected. I am proud of what the young team achieved in the last 18 months."