According to highly-placed sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), these players have claimed that Kumble is "too bossy".
At least 10 of the present set of Team India players have apparently told the Indian cricket board officials that they are against giving Anil Kumble an extension as chief coach.
According to highly-placed sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), these players have claimed that Kumble is "too bossy".
They are also said to have blamed Kumble for "imposing strict standard of inhuman approach while tackling fatigue and injury".
And, with BCCI ready to conduct fresh interviews in London over the next two or three days, the writing on the wall is clear — there can be only one boss inside the dressing room and that is the team captain.
BCCI's acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary and GM, Cricket, MV Sridhar have interacted with the players. Former skipper Sourav Ganguly, who is a key member of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), also had a meeting with the team separately last week.
"It has been conveyed to CAC that BCCI or Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators will have no role whatsoever in selection the appropriate person for coach's job," added the official.
Though the interviews are likely to be conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, it might be rescheduled as these former greats have a different travel schedule during the Champions Trophy.
According to an insider, only one player has come out openly in support of Kumble while the rest have maintained silence after the controversy broke out recently. A player is even said to have claimed that Kumble's stubborn attitude forced him to go for surgery.
"The difference between 2011 World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten and Kumble is that while the former was a friend, who used to keep conversations confidential, Kumble has a habit of giving his own example of strict discipline and then taking the conversation to others," is what the players have apparently told the BCCI.
Sehwag front runner?
With news that Kumble is unwilling to stay further after this ugly spat, former India batsman Virender Sehwag has emerged as a strong candidate to take over the reins of Team India.
Though Sehwag only sent a brief application to the BCCI, he is apparently ready with a detailed presentation to be made before the CAC.
"Viru only applied after media reports. He has written in his email that 'I'm applying for the post after reading about it in the media. Please let me know if anything else is required to go with my application'," clarified the source.
On the question of Laxman's conflict of interest with Australian applicant Tom Moody, the official said that "CAC member will recuse himself during the interview".
Kumble has also applied for the post when he was not required to as he had a direct entry into the final pool.
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