Virat Kohli Was In Favour When I Applied For The Coach's Post, Reveals Virender Sehwag

Former India batsman Virender Sehwag has revealed he had applied for Team India’s coach post only after being convinced by Virat Kohli. The legendary batsman, who was pipped by Ravi Shastri for the job, was a surprise candidate to replace Anil Kumble and it was later revealed he had submitted his application only after being persuaded by BCCI officials.

And a couple of months after losing the race to Shastri, Sehwag has revealed he talked to Kohli and applied for the post only after discovering the latter was in favour of it.

“I did not think [about applying for the job]. BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary and Dr Sridhar approached me and they requested me. I took my time. I also spoke with Virat Kohli and he also said he was in favour. That is when I applied. If you asked me if I had interest in coaching, I did not have any,” the swashbuckling opener told India TV.

Citing his family as the reason behind his initial reservation of not applying for the post, Sehwag made it clear that  he would never think of taking up the coach’s role in the future.

“My fear always was I had played cricket for 15 years, stayed away from the family, so if I enter coaching I would again become busy for seven to eight months travelling with the Indian team. Hence I never thought about coaching and will not think [of it] anymore in the future,” he said.

Sehwag further said he troubled by Anil Kumble‘s acrimonious exit as the head coach of the team. Under Kumble, Team India had enjoyed a very successful one year where they made it to the top of Test rankings and the final of the Champions Trophy. However, the successful association came to an disappointing end after Kumble parted ways with the team after being told of captain Virat Kohli’s reservations overs his style of functioning.

“I was definitely troubled by the way Anil Kumble was made to exit,” Sehwag said. “If both of them stayed together and they could get along again it would be good. But probably the circumstances were not that he [Kumble] could stay.”

“And the biggest thing was Anil Kumble resigned himself. Possibly it was not a good time for Anil Kumble and hence he had to go. Otherwise there was no better and capable coach than him,” he added.