Kohli, Kumble ‘rift’ shakes India

SIGNS of a rift between India’s skipper Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble have shaken the country ahead of the team’s campaign to win a second straight Champions Trophy.

As India prepare to launch their tournament against Pakistan in Birmingham on Sunday, Indian media is abuzz with reports of differences between Kohli and Kumble over tactics and training.

With Kumble’s one-year contract ending this month, the Indian board’s move to advertise the job ahead of the 50-over showpiece event raised eyebrows.

The deadline for applications ended yesterday. However, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was just “following procedure”.

Gavaskar, attempting to reassure fans, said an invitation for applications did not reflect tensions in the KohliKumble relationship.

“You will never have a situation when the captain and coach of any country is on the same page,” Gavaskar said at the Aaj Tak Salaam cricket convention in London yester- day.

“It is impossible for that to happen because the coach had played in the earlier generation and that’s why the approach may be slightly different from the current generation.

“I don’t think that should be taken too seriously because these discussions are healthy for the team.”

Indian newspapers have speculated that cracks in the Kohli-Kumble relationship prompted the BCCI to hunt for a new coach.

The Times of India reported that players were not happy with Kumble’s hard task-master approach, and that the captain and coach had several run-ins during this year’s home series against Australia.

A headline in The Hindu read “Kohli, Kumble at loggerheads?” with the report adding that Kumble’s proposal to field left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the third Australia Test in Ranchi set off trouble between the two.

Despite the apparent tensions, Kumble has had a brilliant run as coach, helping the Kohli-led side win all five Test series since his appointment in June last year. – AFP