London : Anil Kumble is not the man who ever moved away from the thick of battle. A big man, he’s got an imposing presence and a booming voice. That voice is heard often and loud during practice and team meetings.
India’s coaches of the recent vintage have mostly been quieter men, such as John Wright, Gary Kirsten and Duncan Fletcher. The two exceptions were Greg Chappell and Ravi Shastri: The Australian was, in the view of many players, a control freak who proved to be a disruptive element. This caused a conflict between him and the team which quickly descended into ugliness. Shastri, another strong personality, threw his weight heavily behind the team – there was no chance of a conflict. He was extremely supportive of the players and captains under his watch, and his supremely confident attitude had a positive influence on the team.
Strong man
Has there occurred a clash of the minds between Kumble and Kohli? It wouldn’t be a huge shock if it did happen. Both Kumble and Kohli are assertive, strong-minded men. They know their minds well and are unlikely to back down meekly.
Wright, Kirsten and Fletcher knew how to deal with India’s superstars – they got their ideas through quiet advice and suggestion, not strong assertion.
An Indian team insider says that Kumble is a coach who likes control; that he doesn’t have what Kirsten and Fletcher had – “the ability to be largely invisible, stepping up to provide guidance and advice to the players only when necessary”.
Kohli’s views
A few days ago, Kohli was asked specifically about Kumble’s role in India’s success in the last one year, during which they’ve won a record number of Test matches and series at home.
Kohli had the opportunity to speak about the coach’s role in the team’s success, and he’d said: “Obviously, when you have results come your way, the contribution is from every part of the team. It’s not from a single source, to say the least. Everyone works hard equally, if not more than the other person.”