Even after almost a year-and-half from then, an email has been accessed by ESPNCricinfo which has brought the controversy back in focus.
New Delhi: A lot has been spoken and written about India captain Virat Kohli's fallout with Anil Kumble since the latter's resignation as the team’s head coach. But the issue is back in news, thanks to a leaked email.
Even after almost a year-and-half from then, an email has been accessed by ESPNCricinfo which has brought the controversy back in focus.
BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (COA) member Diana Edulji had sent the email to COA chief Vinod Rai, which suggested that 'rules were broken' to appoint Ravi Shastri as Kumble's successor to the job.
Edulji's ongoing disagreement with Rai regarding the selection of an ad-hoc committee to pick Indian women's head coach, has led to this revelation. Edulji had claimed that Ramesh Powar was wanted back at the helm by both Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, to which Rai objected stating that players cannot interfere in the matters of coach's selection.
To contradict Rai’s statement, Edulji has revealed that Kohli had a big say in removing Kumble from his post. Kohli was also alleged of sending messages to BCCI's CEO Rahul Johri to replace the coach.
“Virat did not accede to Kumble continuing in spite of CAC (Cricket Advisory Committee formed to overlook the selection of the new coach) saying so, then why not these two players get what they feel is best for the team. They were truthful in expressing their views, unlike Virat who frequently sent SMSes to the CEO on which you acted and there was a change in the coach", Edulji stated in the mail.
The CAC tried, comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly, but failed to mend differences between the captain and the coach. Kumble had then admitted that the captain had 'reservations' with his coaching style.
"There also I had objected and my dissent is recorded when the timelines were extended for someone to apply as he didn't apply in time. Mr Kumble a legend in his own right was subjected to loss of face and made to look like a villain, he was gracious enough to move on for which I respect him," Edulji stated.
“There also, rules were broken and I had raised objections back then," she added.
Kumble had resigned as coach after serving the team for a year, during which the Indian team lost just one in 17 Tests whereas Shastri's reign is currently contracted to run till the 2019 World Cup.
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