Who will replace Kumble? The top contenders for the job
Anil Kumble’s exit from the Indian dressing room has put all the focus on captain Virat Kohli and their ego clash. One person who has been their constant companion and may have seen the ego war from close quarter, however, continues to remain in the shadows.
That figure is Sanjay Bangar. He is the batting coach and will be the go-to man for the Indian players in the West Indies tour. He will also have the help of MV Sridhar, who will look over the team management.
The soft-spoken all-rounder, who played for Railways and India, has been the national team’s batting coach in August, 2014 – a time which saw India performing poorly overseas.
PART OF TRANSITION
Since then the 44-year-old Bangar has been part of a big transition – the stepping down of Dhoni and the rise of Kohli as captain. The latter handled the situation pretty well with Ravi Shastri and then Anil Kumble being the guiding factor.
Bangar again finds himself in a transitional phase – a sudden one. Kumble’s statement about an ‘untenable’ relationship with Kohli has put the Indian dressing room in bad light and the players are bound to feel the heat.
It is here that Bangar’s cool demeanour is needed the most now.
Performance-wise the Windies team doesn’t look to pose a major threat to Indian team, but the off-field developments have come as a let-down.
The strongly-worded statement of Kumble is bound to put Kohli and players under pressure. And it is here that former Kings XI Punjab coach Bangar should play a proactive role.
The towering presence of Shastri and Kumble may have always kept Bangar, a veteran of 165 first-class matches and 12 Tests, in the background but his work has garnered praise from Kohli himself.
SILENT WORKER
The India captain, after his team’s win against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy, had credited Bangar for the development in his batting.
The praises are good but will Bangar, who has been honest with his efforts, just be satisfied with it or will he maintain his own keep the team together in time of crisis may decide how Bangar will be remembered.