India captain Virat Kohli on Thursday said that he respected Anil Kumble’s decision to quit as head coach, but did not reveal what had transpired between the two that led to the 46-year-old’s exit after just one year in the position.
Speaking for the first time since Kumble resigned two days ago, Kohli said that he will never reveal dressing-room details to the public, in an apparent reference to the former coach’s statement that their partnership had become “untenable”.
“Obviously, Anil bhai has expressed his views and he has taken a decision to step out and we will respect that decision,” Kohli said. “It’s something that has happened right after the tournament,” he added, referring to the Champions Trophy. Kumble was scheduled to travel with the Indian team to the Caribbean for a tour, but decided to call it quits two days after the Champions Trophy ended.
Kohli said that Kumble is entitled to his opinion, but implied that dressing-room conversations are sacred to him and they can’t be shared with the public. “One thing for sure is that I have had 11 press conferences that have happened during the Champions Trophy,” Kohli said. “We have created a culture over the last three or four years that whatever happens in the change room, we have tried to maintain the sanctity of the change room throughout. That is what the whole team believes in. For us that is paramount.”
The skipper said that he and his players respected Kumble’s achievements as a player, but refused to speak about his role as a coach. “I have total respect for him as a cricketer and what he has achieved for the nation. All the years that he has played. There’s no taking away that aspect of him at all. And we all respect him totally.”
Kohli was asked about Kumble’s approach to coaching, but he stoically maintained his stance. “Like I said, for me what’s most important is to maintain the sanctity of the dressing room and what happens in the change room is something that’s very sacred and private to all of us... And something that I would not express in details in a public scenario. As I said, his point of view is out there and we respect that decision.”