Laxman reveals Kumble chose to quit as coach despite support from the CAC

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On Friday, BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee member and former India cricketer VVS Laxman said that their panel wanted Anil Kumble to continue as India’s coach but the former captain was bent on quitting after his fallout with skipper Virat Kohli last year. Under Kumble, India did well and even reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. However, reports of a rift between Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli left a bitter taste in the mouth.

Anil Kumble resigned after Team India lost the final to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.

“I don’t think Kohli crossed the line. We at the CAC thought Anil should continue as coach but he thought the right decision was to quit and move ahead. It left a bitter taste in the mouth,” Laxman said at the ‘India Today South Conclave’ in Visakhapatnam.`

The CAC, comprising Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, were tasked with selecting a new coach in 2016 and they chose Anil Kumble. But days after India lost the final to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy, Kumble said he could not continue as coach because of differences with the captain. The former captain went on to say that his relationship with Kohli had become untenable.

“What I did not like was the way he was getting bad press during the Champions Trophy. The CAC wanted Anil to continue and the entire episode was very unfortunate.

“I always tell people CAC are not marriage counsellors. We were tasked with selecting the best possible job. We did a very elaborate process – unfortunately, Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble did not work out,” he added.