Coach-hunting in middle of Champions Trophy

London, So, the new coach of the Indian cricket team could be selected bang in the middle of the Champions Trophy, in London! It seems weird that such an important decision could be made in the middle of an elite international tournament. But informed sources say that the coach-selection process is likely to start over the next couple of days here, and a final decision could be made very soon.
Strange things have been happening. Virender Sehwag had been asked/advised by BCCI to apply for the coach’s post. In his inimitable style, he’s sent in a two-line application. Sehwag has become an educationist, having started a school near Jhajjar in Haryana, and it’s unlikely that his application for the India coach’s job would meet the approval of his school’s principal. In his “see the ball, hit the ball” style, Sehwag has sent in a very brief application to BCCI. This is in sharp contrast to the style of Anil Kumble, the incumbent, who’s known to prepare long presentations and papers to present his ideas to BCCI and players.
Selection by committee
The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) tasked with the selection of the new coach is in the UK. Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, who form the committee, will meet soon to discuss the matter. The number of applicants for the position has gone up to six. Very surprisingly, Kumble has decided to apply for the position despite BCCI’s clarification that as the incumbent, he would automatically be considered an applicant.
CAC, thus, would have to make a choice from among Kumble, Sehwag, Tom Moody, Richard Pybus, Lalchand Rajput and Dodda Ganesh. A seventh candidate, former Australian fast bowler Craig McDermott, applied for the post after the May 31 deadline, and CAC will discuss whether his application should be considered.
Interviews
During his one-year stint, Kumble has presided over great successes for India, especially during the long home season. Kumble’s contract is to run until the end of the Champions Trophy, and BCCI could have simply extended his contract, in view of India’s successes under him. However, BCCI advertised for fresh interviews — in part, this was done because, as has been widely reported, Kumble’s style of functioning was “intimidating and overbearing”, according to some players.
Not cordial
If the visual evidence, from the training sessions, is considered, the relationship between Kumble and captain Virat Kohli seems less than cordial. This suits BCCI, as its officials are not too keen about a strong figure such as Kumble — he stood up for the players’ rights in his playing days, and recently made efforts towards getting a big salary raise for the players and staff. Kumble, notably, had also worked closely with the Justice Lodha Committee, which had been tasked by the Supreme Court with reforming BCCI.
In case CAC decides to select Kumble as coach, Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly would need to sit down with Kohli and seek his opinion — and perhaps even effect a reconciliation between him and Kumble.