Raju Korti
While Team India gears up to take on sworn rivals Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston tomorrow, there is also a grating sense of apprehension over the alleged rift between captain Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble. Apparently, the two have been sharing cold vibes after Kumble wanted a player to be included during the IPL and Kohli least interested. If reports are to be believed, there is a growing concern in the Kohli camp that Kumble is overbearing in his demeanour and approach.
The rift came as a surprise to the cricketing fraternity when the combination had yielded rich dividends with India winning five consecutive series victories. But the clash of egos was waiting to happen. By very nature Kohli and Kumble are as different as chalk and cheese. Kohli, much in the style of Sourav Ganguly, is impetuous while Kumble has been a picture of courtliness and grit all through his illustrious career.
After the exit of New Zealand's John Wright and to some extent South Africa's Gary Kirsten, the relations between the captains and the coaches of their time have been at best lukewarm. There is a fair allowance of debate on who should have a final say in the team selection at the last minute. Both the captain and the coach look at the issue from their vantage points -- the captain draws from his instincts and claims to know what he wants while the coach feels he is objectively a better judge sitting in the dugout.
The brief of a coach has assumed a wider significance in today's context. He is no longer just the conventional cricketing coach but also as some sort of mentor and advisor. Whether that makes for a unjustified case of coach exceeding his brief is another debate but it leads to a situation where they either complement or clash with each other. With the kind of stakes involved, invariably the latter happens given the king size egos the players and cricketing administrators nurse. History provides testimony.
Remember the running battle and acrimony between Ganguly and Australian Greg Chappel. Chappel's authoritarian style of functioning didn't go down with Ganguly, himself not the one to take anything lying down. What it did was it also cleaved the team in the dressing room. Chappel exited unceremoniously, leaving behind an unending debate whether India should have a foreign coach or someone from within the country's cricketing fraternity.
As it has turned out, the captain and the team have the last laugh on the issue as the Cricketing Board cannot afford to antagonise players, whatever the stature of the coach. There is some merit in the argument that analytics and strategizing should be left to the skipper and his think tank since finally what happens and is executed on ground is his responsibility.
Kumble's own track record is outstanding and he is known to be a man of convictions. To be fair to him, his views cannot be given a short shrift but I feel the coach should just prescribe rather than insist. Their symbiotic relationship can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on how they handle each other.
My childhood friend and cricketer N S Krishnan puts it in the perspective. Says he: "Trying to impose a football-like coach driven culture may not be the best idea and the rules of engagement between the coach and skipper have to be evolved and negotiated for each pair. There cannot be rigid rules that govern the engagement between the two. If there is a breakdown it is unfortunate. There has to be a proper role definition after a lot of thought, reasoning and debate. No easy solutions ahead unfortunately."
Kumble's extension of contract was a foregone conclusion but it won't come as a surprise if he is sacrificed at the altar of the skipper. If he has been officious, he cannot escape part of the blame.
Kumble's former team-mates Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman form the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee and they have an unenviable task of taking a decision on a man whom they fully respect. Virender Sehwag's name is emerging as a front-runner if its curtains for Kumble.
Irrespective of whoever takes charge, the imbroglio doesn't look to fade away. Ego gets you inches, it doesn't get you impact.
While Team India gears up to take on sworn rivals Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston tomorrow, there is also a grating sense of apprehension over the alleged rift between captain Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble. Apparently, the two have been sharing cold vibes after Kumble wanted a player to be included during the IPL and Kohli least interested. If reports are to be believed, there is a growing concern in the Kohli camp that Kumble is overbearing in his demeanour and approach.
The rift came as a surprise to the cricketing fraternity when the combination had yielded rich dividends with India winning five consecutive series victories. But the clash of egos was waiting to happen. By very nature Kohli and Kumble are as different as chalk and cheese. Kohli, much in the style of Sourav Ganguly, is impetuous while Kumble has been a picture of courtliness and grit all through his illustrious career.
After the exit of New Zealand's John Wright and to some extent South Africa's Gary Kirsten, the relations between the captains and the coaches of their time have been at best lukewarm. There is a fair allowance of debate on who should have a final say in the team selection at the last minute. Both the captain and the coach look at the issue from their vantage points -- the captain draws from his instincts and claims to know what he wants while the coach feels he is objectively a better judge sitting in the dugout.
The brief of a coach has assumed a wider significance in today's context. He is no longer just the conventional cricketing coach but also as some sort of mentor and advisor. Whether that makes for a unjustified case of coach exceeding his brief is another debate but it leads to a situation where they either complement or clash with each other. With the kind of stakes involved, invariably the latter happens given the king size egos the players and cricketing administrators nurse. History provides testimony.
Remember the running battle and acrimony between Ganguly and Australian Greg Chappel. Chappel's authoritarian style of functioning didn't go down with Ganguly, himself not the one to take anything lying down. What it did was it also cleaved the team in the dressing room. Chappel exited unceremoniously, leaving behind an unending debate whether India should have a foreign coach or someone from within the country's cricketing fraternity.
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| Not seeing face to face: Kohli and Kumble |
Kumble's own track record is outstanding and he is known to be a man of convictions. To be fair to him, his views cannot be given a short shrift but I feel the coach should just prescribe rather than insist. Their symbiotic relationship can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on how they handle each other.
My childhood friend and cricketer N S Krishnan puts it in the perspective. Says he: "Trying to impose a football-like coach driven culture may not be the best idea and the rules of engagement between the coach and skipper have to be evolved and negotiated for each pair. There cannot be rigid rules that govern the engagement between the two. If there is a breakdown it is unfortunate. There has to be a proper role definition after a lot of thought, reasoning and debate. No easy solutions ahead unfortunately."
Kumble's extension of contract was a foregone conclusion but it won't come as a surprise if he is sacrificed at the altar of the skipper. If he has been officious, he cannot escape part of the blame.
Kumble's former team-mates Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman form the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee and they have an unenviable task of taking a decision on a man whom they fully respect. Virender Sehwag's name is emerging as a front-runner if its curtains for Kumble.
Irrespective of whoever takes charge, the imbroglio doesn't look to fade away. Ego gets you inches, it doesn't get you impact.
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