Anil Kumble talks about the controversial Whatsapp group and India's chances in South Africa

One of the greatest match-winners and former Indian coach Anil Kumble has finally come out of the woods and expressed his views on the current Indian team and their chances against South Africa in the upcoming series in the rainbow nation. Kumble, who has played 132 Test matches for India, has a fair amount of experience of playing in South African wickets.

He stepped down from the post of India’s head coach after the Champions Trophy in June this year. India finished runners-up after being beaten by arch-rivals Pakistan in the finals. Kumble hasn’t spoken much about the Indian team since then, neither did he expressed his views on social media. Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli’s rift led to the infamous exit of the former.

Kumble sounds confident

Kumble won the “Coach of the Year” honour at the annual Sports Writers Association of Bangalore (SWAB) awards ceremony, praised captain Kohli and his team-mates. He sounded optimistic about India’s chances and said “India can create history in South Africa and beyond. I am very confident about the team.”

He also took a parting shot at the reports of him creating a Whatsapp group, where he leaked information to journalists. “Sorry to all journalists for not putting you all in my WhatsApp group,” Kumble said. “We’ve been told that there is a WhatsApp group created by Kumble of his few trusted media friends and few confidential talks between him and senior players were leaked through that” an unnamed senior official of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was quoted as saying by “DNA” newspaper.

The Indian team will play a series of three Tests and it will be followed by limited overs cricket. Kumble and rest of the cricket fans will keep a close eye on the proceedings as India have done well at home.