Questions raised against Anil Kumble's appointment show that India doesn't deserve sporting heroes

Ravi Shastri oversaw the Indian team as its director for nearly a year

Shastri cut a raw deal

Many opinions on air yesterday indicated how Ravi Shastri had cut a raw deal by not getting the chance to coach a side he had resurrected. The ‘Is Kumble as good?’ undertones were quite visible in those opinions and extremely misplaced.

Yes, Ravi Shastri took over mid-way after a shameful series loss to England in 2014, yes, he comes to the rescue every time, never really wanting the job. But has Ravi Shastri actually delivered extraordinary performances that none is capable of replacing him?

In the period of Shastri’s directorship, India lost (in spite of fighting hard) against Australia in the 4-match Test series and the “Mickey Mouse” tri-series that followed. After losing to Australia in the semi-final of the World Cup – a tournament that had been created to ensure that top teams go deep into the tournament – India lost a one-day series to Bangladesh for the first time ever.

That was followed by perhaps the only major achievement of that period when India beat Sri Lanka after 22 years, post which things were back to normal with South Africa crushing India in the limited overs series and Australia doing something similar Down Under.

Skittling oppositions on rank turners isn’t an achievement that is exclusive to this Indian side, neither is reaching the top four of a World T20 being played in your own home turf. By no means does one wish to devalue these results, but giving them more credit than what they deserve and over-romanticizing Shastri’s ‘body of work’ is a big no-no.

Shastri was overlooked because he wasn’t deemed to be as good as Kumble on the given day, with the decision being taken by an empowered panel that did what it had to do.

Needs to gel with the team

When many of India’s current lot of cricketers were plying their trade in domestic cricket, Kumble was a colossal figure in Indian cricket already – leading the Test side at that point of time. But it’s hard to imagine that people aren’t seeing the benefits of having someone of Kumble’s stature in the dressing room. Leave aside his stint as India’s leading bowler and Test captain – Kumble has carried himself with the dignity that would make a statesman proud.

So an individual who is well respected, has an extraordinary amount of cricketing credentials, is known for his cricketing acumen and has in the past displayed astute leadership abilities (like during the Monkeygate episode) will only be able to contribute positively to the dressing room culture irrespective of whether he gels well with the team or not.

The fact that Kumble has had successful stints with IPL sides and has mentored many young cricketers through his grassroots level coaching initiatives is good enough indicate his ability to find his space in the young dressing room.

Moreover, it’s always a positive to have contrarian viewpoints in the side. In recent times, Indian cricket has increasingly become more about ‘yes men’, where people pat each other’s backs and believe that life is perfect. Kumble’s inclusion creates a shake up in the established order and allows a dissenting opinion that will not easily be disregarded especially in the face of the kind of control young Virat Kohli has been able to establish over his side.

In conclusion

Anil Kumble’s biggest fault is that he isn’t media savvy and does not prefer playing to the galleries – a culture that is seldom appreciated in India in spite of the poor records one has seen with the likes of Chappell.

The major problem that people today have with Kumble is in the fact that he isn’t out there all the time, indulging in drum beating or PR. He’s a silent performer, goes about doing his work, just like he went about bowling his overs – with or without a broken jaw, no matter what, always at the line of duty.

Kumble won’t label legitimate contests as “Mickey Mouse” cricket, neither will he dismiss a series loss as something he doesn’t “give two hoots” about. He will remain the meticulous, hard working individual, willing to call a spade a spade – forthright, honest, unafraid to speak up.

And for that, he deserves a chance. If not to succeed, but to fail at least and that’s the least the Indian fraternity can do to recognize the efforts of an honest servant of the game.

It’s likely that a similar reception wouldn’t have been handed out to Sachin Tendulkar had he ever decided to don the coach’s hat without coaching experience. Eulogies would’ve been drafted, video packages of his hundred centuries would have been played. No one would have spoken of criteria, no one would have spoken of other candidates, it would have been Tendulkar alone.

So why not Kumble?