In an interview with Indian Express, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) Vinod Rai clearly explained that it would be “incorrect” to say that Indian captain was not held responsible for World Cup debacle. He was also requested to throw a light upon Anil Kumble controversy.
On World Cup and Coach
While asked about India’s journey in the World Cup which nobody expected to be finished in the semi-final stage, Vinod Rai said, “It’s good to have checks and balances. When a team performs badly, I don’t think it’s only the captain’s (responsibility). There are a lot of closed-door discussions… To say that nobody held Virat Kohli responsible for the (World Cup) loss would be incorrect.”
He was also asked about the head coach of the team, Ravi Shastri. To this Rai sounded satisfied with Shastri’s performance, “Now, again, I don’t know how many coaches would have been superior to Shastri, but at least he has managed to keep the team fighting fit, battle-ready and cohesive in every respect. So I think he performed very well as a coach.”
The controversial Kumble saga
Rai said that he had no idea about Kohli-Kumble episode. Kumble was the head coach before Shastri. He resigned following a clash with Kohli, according to the reports. Shastri took the charge in 2017. Rai explained that he had no idea about what exactly happened at that time in the dressing room between Kohi and Kumble. “Kumble’s contract did not have a clause for extension. That’s all. And, what was the process? Call for applications, go through an interview process, and select the right person. You can call me ignoramus, but at the time I did not know what happened between the captain and the coach.”
He further added that he was mostly okay with Kumble’s extension as a coach if it was found appropriate by committee. “The issue that came up was not so much about what happened in the dressing room… It was if we have to extend Kumble’s tenure, how do we do it? I was in favour of an extension if it was found appropriate by a certain committee. I said please follow the process. That’s all.”
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