Kumble steps down as India coach, says 'doesn't want to continue'

Former leg-spinner Anil Kumble on Tuesday stepped down from the post of India head coach.

The development comes in the wake of his fall-out of his rifts between skipper Virat Kohli and other team members.

Kumble did not travel with the team from England to the West Indies for the limited-overs tour starting June 23 and decided to stay back in London to attend the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting.

As per a BCCI source, Kumble said "he doesn't want to continue with the team".

It is reported that he turned down the offer given to him by BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Tuesday, which was Kumble's last day as India head coach.

 

Kumble was appointed coach in June 2016 for a one-year term by the CAC and was instantly successful. Under him, India won Test series against West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia.

And he was being considered the front-runner for an extension till the 2019 World Cup, with Team India having won almost every series under him in the past one year.

It was reported that the three-member CAC, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who are tasked to find the new coach for the Indian cricket team, was willing to retain the legendary leg-spinner for the post.

Reports were surfacing about Kohli's alleged spat with Kumble regarding differences of opinion on selection matters.

However, Kohli, before India's opening encounter at the Champions Trophy against Pakistan rejected the reports of him having rift with the head coach, saying they were mere speculations which have been created by the people.

The BCCI has already invited applications for the position.

While Dodda Ganesh, Lalchand Rajput, Richard Pybus and Tom Moody had submitted applications for the post of head coach, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag forwarded a two-line cover letter to the management.

Kumble had a successful year-long stint with the Kohli-led team and his tenure will conclude with the ongoing Champions Trophy in England.

In 17 Tests, Kumble saw India win a dozen, drawing four and losing just one against Australia.

India even retained the number one stop in Test ranking under Kumble's term.

And recently, the Men in Blue made it to the finals of the Champions Trophy where they lost to Pakistan on Sunday.