When Anil Kumble took the call to take up cricket administration, he hadn't quite factored in the amount of time he would have to devote to the honorary position
Anil Kumble
Bangalore: When Anil Kumble took the call to take up cricket administration, he hadn't quite factored in the amount of time he would have to devote to the honorary position.
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Anil Kumble. Pic/PTI
His young family, who thought they would have him all to themselves once he called time on his playing career, were still left chasing him for some quality time together. So it wasn't a surprise that this time around, when he was applying for the Indian coach's job, he ensured he consulted his family and got their go ahead first.
"It's a big responsibility," he said in Bangalore soon after the BCCI informed him of the decision to appoint him as coach. "I spoke to my family as well because it's not easy travelling for 365 days but my wife has been very supportive," said a grateful Kumble.
Challenges are what keeps the man going and a few months of relaxing at home, a European vacation, et all obviously got to him. "I've never been one to shy away from challenges, I've always put my hand up," was how he chose to explain his seeking to coach the Indian team.
"I have seen the responsibilities and pressures that coaches go through," he continued. "I thought this was a good time to return to Indian cricket, to be in the dressing room and keep the atmosphere good. I have a short-term plan as well as a long-term plan. But I cannot plan alone, I have to share my thinking with the full team and they will also share their ideas with me."
Stressing that the players will always come first for him, Kumble added that he would be picking the brains of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman – the three Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) members who interviewed him - and Rahul Dravid in his quest to turn the Indian team into a world-beating unit. "I have played a lot of cricket with the three members of the CAC, and a lot of cricket with Rahul, so the five of us will be in touch and we will have to coordinate and speak to each other also," he said.
'Possible conflict of interest will be addressed'
While thanking the CAC and the BCCI for placing their trust in him, Kumble also revealed that any possible conflict of interest issues would be addressed before he formally took over as India coach. "Whatever needs to be done will be done before I take up this role officially. It's been discussed with the BCCI already."
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