Javagal Srinath confident of Anil Kumble's success as India's new head coach

Anil Kumble’s former India and Karnataka team-mate Javagal Srinath has expressed his joy at the legendary leg-spinner’s appointment as India’s new head coach and is confident that the Men in Blue will enjoy tremendous success under his tenure, the Asian Age reports.

It has been more than 24 hours since Kumble was confirmed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, starting with the upcoming four-match Test series against the West Indies, and tributes have been flowing in from various quarters commending the BCCI for choosing the 45-year-old from 57 potential candidates.

While Kumble’s pedigree as a bowler of immense calibre is no secret, Srinath is one cricketer who knows him inside out having grown up playing cricket together for both the national and state sides.

While Kumble led the spin department, it was Srinath who shouldered the burden of the pace department, often single-handedly, to emerge as one of India’s greatest ever fast bowlers. Talking about Kumble’s appointment, Srinath said that was a matter of personal joy to see his former teammate handed the responsibility of what is arguably one of the most demanding jobs in world cricket.

Congratulating the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who forwarded Kumble’s name to the BCCI, Srinath said that the right decision has been made.

“It’s a good decision from the Cricket Advisory Committee and very happy news for me. They selected a capable candidate for the role and also the right one for the job,” said the former India spearhead.

With Kumble having no formal coaching experience till now, having only served as a mentor to the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians franchise in the IPL since his retirement from cricket, before taking up the role of Chairman of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket Committee, the BCCI has offered only a one-year contract to Kumble for now.

Srinath is, however, confident that Kumble, who is India’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 619 scalps from 132 matches, will be able to emulate his success on the field during his playing days, with his new role as well and thus force the BCCI into extending his tenure beyond the one-year mark.

“As a player and captain, he loved challenges. I’m confident that he will be successful as a coach too,” Srinath said.