Team India travels without a coach as Kumble steps down

LONDON: Anil Kumble stepped down as India coach on Tuesday amid reports of differences with skipper Virat Kohli, leaving the team heading to the West Indies for a short tour without a coach.

Kumble’s decision came after some drama in London where he did not join the squad for the flight to the Caribbean on Tuesday morning. It was initially suggested he stayed back to chair a 2-day ICC meeting before the BCCI clarified. “The BCCI confirms that Mr Anil Kumble has withdrawn his services as the post of the Head Coach for the Senior India Men’s team,” the Board announced in a tweet on Tuesday.

“While the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) had endorsed an extension to his tenure as Head Coach, Mr Anil Kumble has decided not to continue as the coach,” the statement added.

It announced that MV Sridhar, GM-Cricket Operations, will supervise the team during the limited-overs series of the West Indies starting on June 23.

Kumble had a successful oneyear tenure since he was appointed in July 2016 to succeed Ravi Shastri. However, his position became shaky following reports of rift in the dressing room ahead of the Champions Trophy, where India lost to Pakistan in the final on Sunday.

Doubts whether

Kumble would get an extension grew after the

BCCI announced the process to find a coach on May 25, six days before the major tournament.