'It's a great honour to be back in Indian dressing room,' says Anil Kumble
Bengaluru: Anil Kumble expressed happiness over his appointment as Team India’s head coach on Thursday.
Former India skipper said, “It's a great honour to be back in Indian dressing room in a different role. It’s a huge responsibility; I am ready to take this role. Coaches come later, it’s always players first.”
"I spoke to my family and they supported my decision. I have travelled for almost 18 years (as an international cricketer) and it is not going to be easy as we will be travelling a lot,'' added the ex-India leg-spinner.
Asked what will be his strategy going ahead, Kumble kept it simple, saying, “Strategy will be to win.”
“There is still time to think about all that and sit with the players. I have a short and long plan for the upcoming series, but I cannot plan alone and will need players to pitch in,” added Kumble who is appointed as head coach for a period of a year.
While Kumble did not have a prior coaching experience, he has mentored Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in IPL.
Following his retirement a year later, he took up administrative roles as he was elected as president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association in November 2010.
He served as chairman of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and also headed the BCCI's technical committee.
The selection of the coach was made based on the recommendation by the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman.
"This is a great time for Indian cricket. I have played for long with Sourav, Sachin, VVS and Rahul is also guiding the junior team. The five of us share wonderful relation on the field and off it as well. I am looking forward to working with them," Kumble spoke fondly of the 'Golden Period' of Indian cricket.
"Need to sit down with Sourav, Sachin, Laxman and Dravid and need to do what is best for Indian cricket."
Expressing happiness over his selection, Kumble’s wife, Chethana Ramatheertha, said, “We will miss him, but very happy as Indian team cannot find such a loyal coach.”
