India’s most successful ODI and Test bowler Anil Kumble has been appointed as Indian cricket team’s new head coach for a period of one year. Kumle will begin his one year stint with India’s national side with the upcoming Test tour of West Indies in July.
Kumble had applied for the position earlier this month and had been shortlisted in the list of 21 names by the BCCI’s advisory panel comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. He met the advisory panel on Tuesday for the final interview after which his name was forwarded by the panel to the BCCI.
BCCI President Anurag Thakur made this announcement in Dharamshala today evening through a press conference.
Kumble’s appointment has come as a surprise to many as India’s leg-spnning legend has no coaching experience whatsoever when compared with the other six contenders who were interviewed on Tuesday. He was the mentor of IPL franchisees Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians respectively in different seasons and apart from that, he was the President of Karnataka Cricket Association. It seems these two qualifications were enough for the panel to pick Kumble, who has had an average record as the captain of India’s Test side as well.