Anil Kumble steps down: A timeline of the legendary cricketer's reign as India's head coach

Anil Kumble on Tuesday decided against continuing as the head coach of the Indian cricket team after admitting his partnership with captain Virat Kohli had become “untenable”. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in a statement that Kumble had decided not to continue as head coach of the team and withdrawn his candidature from the process to name India’s next cricket coach. According to reports, Kumble, whose one-year tenure was scheduled to end at the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales, stayed back in England instead of travelling with the team for their next assignment in the West Indies. [caption id=“attachment_3730303” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Anil Kumble oversaw a successful year in Indian cricket. AP[/caption] Earlier, reports of a rift between captain Virat Kohli and Kumble had emerged, prompting the BCCI to advertise for the post of head coach just before the team landed in England for the Champions Trophy. Under Kumble, India enjoyed a great record in all formats of the game. In Tests, the Men in Blue attained the No 1 ranking with series victories over West Indies, New Zealand, England and Australia. In ODIs, India edged New Zealand and England on home soil before finishing runners-up in the Champions Trophy, while in the shortest format of the game, Kumble endured his only loss in a bilateral series, when India went down to world champions West Indies in a two-match series, before beating England 2-1 in India. As the curtains come down on Kumble’s successful yet tumultuous reign as India coach, take a look at a timeline of events that unfolded in the last year. 12 June 2016: BCCI reveal a list of 57 candidates to have applied for the coach’s job of the Indian cricket team. Kumble’s name stands out among the aspirants, but questions over his lack of experience as a coach casts doubts over his selection. 21 June 2016: The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman interview Kumble, along with a few select candidates to have applied for the role. 23 June 2016: The CAC appoints Kumble as head coach on a one-year term, ahead of former Team India director Ravi Shastri. 24 July 2016: India beat West Indies by an innings and 92 runs in the 1st Test in Antigua to win first match under Kumble. India go onto win the four-match series 2-0, to hand the 46-year-old a winning start to his reign as India’s coach. 25 March 2017: Reports of a disagreement between Kohli and Kumble over selection of chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in place of the injured captain in the starting XI for the decisive Test against Australia in Dharamsala provide initial signs of friction between the coach and the captain. 28 March 2017: India beat Australia by 8 wickets in Dharamsala to clinch the series 2-1 and complete an unblemished home season with three series wins on the bounce. Kuldeep Yadav impresses in his debut game by picking up four wickets in the first innings. The reports of a tiff between Kohli and Kumble appear to be a one-off. 23 May 2017: Kumble asks for batting coach Sanjay Bangar to also be elevated to the post of assistant coach while seeking a slot for a bowling coach to feature in a structured support staff for Indian team during a presentation made to the BCCI. Reports of Zaheer Khan being Kumble’s preferred choice for the new role start doing the rounds. 25 May 2017: With Kumble’s contract nearing an end in June, BCCI spring a surprise by advertising for fresh resumes for India’s coaching job. Kumble is given a direct entry into the process. The apex cricket body in India later clarify that it being a mere formality to ensure a fairness in the process. 29 May 2017: Reports of unrest between Kumble and Kohli surface claiming that the Indian captain, along with certain members of the team, is unhappy with the coach’s “overbearing” attitude. 1 June 2017: Kumble reapplies in spite of having a direct entry into the process. Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Richard Pybus, Lalchand Rajput and Dodda Ganesh are among six candidates to put their hats in the ring. 3 June 2017: Kohli denies rift with head coach Kumble ahead of India’s Champions Trophy opener with Pakistan. The captain terms reports about the tensions between the duo as “made up”, while adding that disagreements exist in every group. 17 June 2017 - The CAC meets with Kohli and decides to put the issue to bed after the Champions Trophy. 20 June 2017 - Indian team depart for West Indies tour, but Kumble stays back. A source from the Indian board suggests Kumble remained in London to perform his duties as head of ICC’s Cricket Committee that is slated to meet in London. 20 June 2017 - Later in the evening, Kumble resigns India’s head coach saying it was in the best interest of Indian cricket for him to “move on”. With inputs from IANS