Former spinner Anil Kumble has no concerns over the length of his contract as India’s new head coach, believing he has enough time and matches to make an impact.
Kumble, whose only coaching experience has been as mentor of the Mumbai and Bangalore teams in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, was given a one-year term last week. For the post, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) received 57 applications which were made available to an advisory panel that included former captains Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly and former batsman VVS Laxman.
The BCCI said Kumble was handed a one-year contract so they could review their options for one of world cricket’s most challenging jobs at the end of that period. “I am talking about a journey,” former India skipper Kumble told reporters in his first press conference after bagging the job.
“There are 17 Test matches in the next 12 months. I just look at that as an opportunity to gain experience and contribute to Indian cricket.” Kumble’s first assignment will be a four-Test series in West Indies, after which India is set for a bumper season of home action when they will be playing 13 Test matches, eight ODIs and three T20 internationals.
They start with three Tests against New Zealand, while England and Australia will play five and four matches respectively. Bangladesh will also play a one-off Test. India won their last Test series in the Caribbean 1-0 and Kumble was confident they would return victorious again.
“When I became captain, I never thought if I will be captain for a year or longer,” the 45-year-old said. “This team has potential and we will go for wins in those 17 matches. There will be some hard moments but I am sure we will come out of those. The last time we went to the West Indies, we won the series, so we will take that confidence with us.”
“This Indian team has played very well in Test cricket (in the recent past). In the camp (currently under way at the National Cricket Academy), I am just trying to get used to the players. Probably because of the rain, practice will be a problem but I believe this is a very good chance for us to win. We will go there to win the series.”
Former leg-spinner Kumble, who heads the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) cricket committee, is India’s most successful bowler, capturing 619 wickets in 132 Tests and 337 from 271 one-day internationals. Taking 20 wickets in Tests have always been a challenge for touring India side and Kumble hoped his experience would come in handy.
“It’s important the bowling group believe that they are leaders, which they are just the mindset and whatever needs to be done,” he added.
“The experiences I have had as a captain or as a player will certainly help in sharing those. It’s a different role. Whatever problems and challenges there might be on the field, we will keep all that in mind and prepare – that is what I plan to do. Whatever is the support group, the coaching staff and the rest of the support, our belief is that our job is to work in the background,” he continued.
“Those who will be in the forefront will be the players, the captain (Virat Kohli). I firmly believe that the player that I was and the coach that I am, I fully understand both the roles and the responsibilities. I believe this team is very talented and whatever we want to see from the team on the ground, I will also share my experience.
One thing I will definitely say is, win or lose, the fighting spirit will always be there.”