Anil Kumble appointed India's new coach at BCCI's inaugural conclave

Anil Kumble appointed India's new coach at BCCI's inaugural conclave

Former captain Anil Kumble has been named head coach of the Indian team by the BCCI's cricket advisory committee comprising Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.

Kumble will have his hands full this year. India travel to West Indies next month for a four-Test series and return home to a play a five-match ODI series against World Cup finalists New Zealand.

India will also play as many 13 Tests in a packed domestic calendar.

SOLID CREDENTIALS 

Kumble, 45, is India's most successful bowler of all time. He has 619 wickets from 132 Tests and snared 337 wickets in 271 one-day internationals in a glittering career spanning from 1990 to 2008.

The fiery leg-spinner captained India in 14 Tests and oversaw three victories, five defeats and six draws. Kumble was at the helm during the controversial Australian tour in 2007-08 and rallied behind his team-mates in the infamous Sydney Test and then threw his weight behind Harbhajan Singh when 'MonkeyGate' erupted. 

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD FOR KUMBLE

Kumble will also be one of the key figures who will need to take a call on Mahendra Singh Dhoni's future as India's limited-overs captain.

After weeks of speculation and hearsay, the board revealed Kumble would fill in the vacancy left by Duncan Fletcher, whose term had ended after the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Former team director Ravi Shastri, was actually among the favourites until Kumble stunned observers with his application.