Rating the top applicants for India coach's job

#3 Anil Kumble : 8.5/10

Anil Kumble has been a fatherly figure for Indian cricket

The most prolific spin bowler to have ever played for India, Anil Kumble’s stature as a cricketer and as a personnel of the BCCI as well as the ICC has only grown since he hung up his boots in 2008. With 619 Test wickets from 132 Tests and 337 ODI wickets from 271 fifty-over internationals to his name, there is no doubt about his cricketing acumen as such. To add a cherry to the cake, his stints as the mentor of two IPL teams – the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians – have held him in good stead for one of the most sought after positions in Indian cricket. In addition to the aforementioned accomplishments, Kumble is also the Chairman of the Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council. Therefore, his managerial skills and man-management prowess are also well chronicled.

Having played international cricket for 18 years, Kumble has ample experience of the Indian conditions and is well-acquainted with many of the current crop of Indian cricketers. An able leader, Kumble led India in Tests for a brief period and also led the Royal Challengers Bangalore to the final of the 2nd season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2009. Notwithstanding his lack of experience as a coach of any international/domestic team, the 45-year-old veteran’s reputation and his sheer knowledge of the game to be very handy to this young generation of Indian cricketers, many of whom are still trying to find their feet in the international arena. The former leg spinner is no stranger to overseas conditions as well, and being the most successful Indian spinner on foreign shores, Kumble would also be able to ail the Indian spinners’ frailties away from the subcontinent.

Given these credentials, and being one of the prominent Indian cricketers to have applied for the role, Kumble may get the nod of the BCCI’s cricket committee and may very well be the next coach of the Indian cricket team.