Anil Kumble appointed India head coach

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, June 23, 2016: Former India captain Anil Kumble has been appointed coach of the national side for one year, the BCCI announced on Thursday in Dharamsala. His first assignment will be India’s four-Test tour of West Indies.

Kumble was among 57 candidates who applied for the position advertised by the BCCI earlier this month. He was included in the shortlist of 21 names and then met the cricket advisory committee in Kolkata on Tuesday for an interview.

His application for the coach’s position came as a surprise to a few in the board, given his lack of experience in the area - he had never coached a side before this appointment but has been a mentor in the IPL, first with Royal Challengers Bangalore and then Mumbai Indians.

Kumble’s lack of experience, however, is made up for by his standing as a player and captain in an 18-year-long international career. He finished as India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests, and the third-highest overall, with 619 wickets, including a best of 10 for 74 against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999.

After being appointed Test captain in November 2007, he led India in 14 matches until his retirement a year later. Among his notable victories as captain was the Perth Test in January 2008, which was played after the controversial Sydney Test where, among other issues, India faced allegations of racism from the Australian side.

Kumble has also served in administrative roles after his retirement. He was elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association in November 2010, served as chairman of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and also headed the BCCI’s technical committee.

The bowling, batting and assistant coaches will be done soon, said BCCI president Anurag Thakur