Couldn’t sort KohliKumble rift
THE BREAK BCCI acting secretary says differences between captain and coach were on cricket and could not be resolved
denominator. We have travelled a great distance, particularly in the past one-and-a-half months and we are very close to a solution. I am sure there will be one on July 26. The process (of appointment) itself was the result of a difference of opinion between the captain and coach. In a sense, the genesis of this phenomenon was such that the whole process could not have been too smooth. The
BCCI tried its best in these circumstances. There were some areas which could have been done in a different way. But it is always easy to say things in retrospect. It was a very unusual situation where a captain and coach don’t have the same views. I mean no two persons should have the same view anyway, but if you have widely different views on the approach to the game or on how to deal with the team, then that becomes a slight problem. So the genesis actually dictated the process in a sense.
The BCCI tried its best to see that things evened out. Nobody would like to not find a solution, which is a natural instinct. So, initially when it was realised that there was a problem, the BCCI tried its best to even it out. Since that couldn’t happen despite the best efforts, an alternative solution had to be found, and that was found. As the very name suggests, one of its major functions is to render advice on the most suitable person as the head coach. But then it is also expected to render advice on any aspect of Indian cricket that it finds fit. Their advice of course will be of great quality. I was witness to their efforts in the last one-and-a-half months and I have nothing but completely unqualified words of praise for them. In terms of time, devotion, dedication, feeling for the country, it has been amazing. I realise there couldn’t have been three other better people (Ganguly, Tendulkar, Laxman) than them. The fact that the release says they are consultants means they are consultants. At the same time, the exact profile of this engagement will evolve over a period of time. In my interface with them, individually and collectively, I thought there were differences which were not personal in nature, but probably on approaches to the game and on how to deal with international cricket in general. It was more to do with cricket than individuals. I cannot comment whether Kumble got a bad deal because obviously going by CV he did a fantastic job. Going only by record, it is very difficult to see anybody else could have done better than that. To that extent, we all salute him. But the situation as it obtains is before you.
The BCCI tried its best to see that things evened out. Nobody would like to not find a solution, which is a natural instinct