Kumble-Kohli controversy: Captain and coach stopped talking six months ago

Although the Kumble-Kohli spat unravelled only a month back, it seems that former head coach Anil Kumble and team India captain Virat Kohli have not been on talking terms for the last six months.

The Cricket Advisory Committee comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman did not give an immediate extension to Kumble’s tenure.

"There had been reports that the CAC had given a green signal to Kumble’s extension immediately. They did give an extension, but it came with a rider. They had said that Kumble should be retained provided all pending issues are resolved," a senior BCCI official, who was present in London during the whole episode, told PTI. 

Three meetings were held post the Champions Trophy final at the Indian team’s hotel. The first was where Kumble met the BCCI top brass and members of CAC followed by Kohli meeting them. The last and the most eventful meeting was when Kohli and Kumble were made to sit across the table. However, even this failed to resolve their differences.

It is reported that the two stopped talking after the England series back in December.

On Sunday when the two held a meeting with the other board members, they agreed that things were not working out.

Kumble apparently told a BCCI official that he had no problems with Kohli and the areas where Kohli has a problem with him were non-issues.

The senior official further said, “If one of the two feels that there are issues which seemed to be a non-issue to the other one, only these two can then sort out. Once they sat across the table, both realised after coming out that it has gone beyond repair.”

It is said that Kumble was to fly to the Caribbean and join the Indian team. His tickets were booked, and his wife too was to join him there. Instead, after the meeting, he tendered his resignation.

• Cricket
• Anil Kumble
• Virat Kohli
• Resignation