Vinod Rai on Kohli-Kumbel Spat
Photo Credit: (BCCI)

The former head of the Committee of Administrators ( COA) appointment by the Apex Court in 2017, Vinod Rai, in his most recently made it clear that there were no differences between former India head coach Anil Kumble and former India captain Virat Kohli.

Rai led the committee for a period of 33 months as the head of the COA. He came in after the BCCI was under the scanner following the IPL spot-fixing scandal in 2013.

Vinod Rai
Photo Credit: (PTI)

No Difference Between Virat Kohli And Anil Kumble Was Brought To My Notice: Vinod Rai

In 2017, after the Champions Trophy, there were media reports that there were tensions between Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble, but Rai has clarified that nothing of that sort was brought to his notice.

Anil Kumble after the Champions Trophy final stepped aside as the coach and Ravi Shastri was handed over the charge.

Speaking on the issue, Rai said: “This is not correct to say that there were differences between Kohli and Kumble. There were no differences between them. I have only written that when the time came to renew Kumble’s contract, we consulted the team and then Virat said that the younger members of the team feel intimidated by Kumble because of his discipline.”

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Anil Kumble, ICC
Head of ICC Cricket Committee Anil Kumble (Photo- Getty)

Rai also clarified that there was an attempt to convince Kohli to let Kumble continue, but the selection of the coach was completely in the hands of the Cricket Advisory Committee.

He also made it clear that in fact Kumble was recommended the 2nd time as well, but Kumble being a dignified man himself did not want to take up the position of some members of the team who didn’t feel comfortable around him.

Rai also shed light on how they convinced Rahul Dravid to take the job of the National Cricket Academy Director. He mentioned that Dravid was first approached to coach the national side, but since he was busy with the U19 team, he didn’t want to take up the job. But after a couple of years, he accepted the role.

Rai was happy with his tenure at BCCI, “there is nothing as such all the decisions of the Supreme Court we were supposed to take we took it and then only we handed over the charge.”

The Board is currently led by former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly who is the BCCI president.

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