Sunil Gavaskar has his say on the Kohli-Kumble controversy

India’s Champions Trophy campaign has begun under a cloud of gloom in the dressing room with reports suggesting that the captain Virat Kohli, and a few other senior players, lacked confidence in their head coach Anil Kumble. Speculation had been rife about a rift between Kumble and the rest of the team ever since the BCCI chose not to automatically extend the tenure of the current, advertising for the position instead on their website.

Later it emerged that this decision was made following feedback from Kohli about Kumble’s coaching method, which is “intimidating”. Kumble’s 1-year contract ends at the end of the Champions Trophy. The drama has unfolded at a time when the captain and the coach have to work together to the best of their abilities to defend the CT title. Amidst all the speculations, former captain Sunil Gavaskar said it is impossible for any captain and coach to always share the same wavelength on cricketing issues.

“You will never have situation, where a captain and a coach will always be on the same page. It cannot happen because the coach is invariably somebody who has played in an earlier generation, so their attitude will always be slightly different,” Gavaskar said at the Aaj Tak Salaam Cricket 2017.

The rift comes at a wrong time 

The former Indian opener also feels that this is not something that the media needs to pay so much attention to, and that coach is the one who should have a long term vision.

“I don’t think this should be taken seriously, this kind of discussion is in fact healthy. Coach should be somebody who is good for Indian cricket. He should have a vision for Indian cricket which would carry Indian cricket forward for the next 8 to 10 years,” Gavaskar said.

He also expressed doubts over the rift between Kumble and Kohli but said that these reports have certainly not come at a right time when the team needs to work together collectively. When he was asked for a solution to the rift the veteran didn’t have any conclusive reply.

“It is hard for me to say how it should be resolved. I hope better sense prevails because nobody is bigger than the game and I think Indian cricket has got to be No 1 priority. We can all differ on how that but as long as our heart beats for Indian cricket, I think we should encourage,” the little master said.