BCCI officials to meet Kohli, Kumble

Amid speculation of a rift between chief coach Anil Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli, the BCCI top brass seems to be on a damage control mode.

Some key officials of the board are likely to meet the duo separately in Birmingham.

BCCI’s joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and GM (Cricket Operations) M V Sridhar reached Birmingham on Wednesday and will take the initiative to speak to the coach and captain in order to understand the current situation.

It has been learnt that the BCCI will start with the process of coaches’ interview after the Pakistan match on June 4.

Wednesday was the last day for sending application for the post of coach as Kumble’s one-year term ends with the Champions Trophy.

The BCCI is clear that whatever the decision is, it should be taken before the team leaves for the West Indies after the Champions Trophy.

The BCCI is yet to confirm the names of potential candidates who have applied for the post. 

Tom Moody’s name is doing the rounds, but till now, no one from the BCCI has confirmed if the Sunrisers Hyderabad coach has applied or not.

It is learnt that BCCI CEO Rahul Johri will go through the applications before handing it over to the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) members Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman — all of whom will be in the UK.

“The CAC will decide whether they would like to conduct the interviews in UK only. It will be completely their prerogative,” a BCCI source told PTI on Wednesday.

Asked if it will be mandatory for Kumble to reappear before the same committee that took his interview, the source said, “That will be CAC’s call completely. If they feel, they need to speak to Anil, they will.”