Virat Kohli speaks out about Anil Kumble, says sanctity of dressing room to be maintained
- Kohli said that Kumble expressed his views and took a decision to step out and that everyone respects his decision
- Kohli also said, "I have total respect for him as a cricketer and what he has achieved for the nation."
- In his resignation letter, Kumble mentioned how the captain was not happy with his ‘style’
FollowVirat Kohli spoke about Anil Kumble’s decision to resign as head coach but offered little in terms of an explanation to the accusations against him.
In an interview with reporters at Port-of-Spain a day ahead of the first ODI against West Indies on June 23, 2017, Kohli said, “Anil Bhai has expressed his views and taken a decision to step out. We all respect that decision. It is something that has happened right after the tournament.”
Kohli said that the sanctity of the dressing room is most important for the players.
“I've had 11 press conferences that have happened during the Champions Trophy. We have created a culture over the last three-four years that whatever happens in the change room, we've tried to maintain the sanctity of the change room throughout. That is what the whole team believes in. For us that is paramount. I've always respected that and we have continued to maintain that as well," he further added.
While talking about the Kumble stating that Kohli had issues with him, Kohli skirted the question by saying, “It's his opinion, his point of view which I respect."
Cracks developed between captain Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble after some players complained about his ‘taskmaster’ style of working.
In his resignation letter, Kumble mentioned how even the captain was not happy with his ‘style’.
Kumble's tenure was supposed to end after the Champions Trophy, but the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of the BCCI extended it until the end of the upcoming West Indies tour.
However, Kumble resigned before the team left London for the West Indies. Kumble said that relations between him and Kohli were ‘untenable’.
Kohli however, said, “It's his opinion, which I respect. I have total respect for him as a cricketer and what he has achieved for the nation. All the years that he has played, there's no taking away that aspect of him at all. And we all respect him totally."
