Virat Kohli to attend BCCI Advisory Committee meeting on Friday to discuss coach issues

All may be going well on the cricket field for the Indian Cricket Team who, with another dominating performance, have set up a blockbuster final clash with arch-rivals Pakistan but controversies always knock on the door of the dressing room.

There were enough reports in the days leading up to the Champions Trophy speculating that all was not well in the Indian camp and there was a rift that had emerged between the players and the head coach, Anil Kumble, particularly with Indian captain Virat Kohli, but he had rubbished the reports in the press conference before their tournament opener against Pakistan.

Now, as Kumble gears up for what will potentially be his last assignment with the Indian team as they tour West Indies soon after the Champions Trophy ends, the Cricket Advisory Committee – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman – will meet the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the coach issue in London on Friday afternoon.

The options

Anil Kumble has reapplied for the job, as the BCCI have to choose between potential candidates including Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody and Lalchand Rajput. Although the BCCI insists that the routine protocols are being followed before choosing a worthy candidate, the meeting seems to have a special significance, as prolific run scorer and Indian captain Kohli, who today became the fastest to reach 8000 runs in ODIs, is also expected to attend the meeting to give his inputs.

Ganguly, Laxman and Tendulkar, who had roped in Kumble as the coach and BCCI gave him a one-year contract in 2016 and they have firmly backed the legendary leg-spinner to continue; however, his presence has been believed to not go down well in the Indian dressing room with the players uncomfortable with his “headmaster” like demeanour.

Only time will tell if there is any truth in these speculations and whether or not Anil Kumble will get an extended run as the head coach for the Indian Cricket Team after the BCCI advertised for the position.