Lack of Indian head coaches in IPL isn't true reflection of our resources, says Anil Kumble
New Delhi: The irony of being the lone Indian head coach in an IPL franchise is not lost on Anil Kumble who firmly believes that the piece of statistic is not a "true reflection" of country's coaching resources.
A look at the IPL squad roster shows that seven franchises have non-Indian head coaches, namely Ricky Ponting (Delhi Capitals), Brendon McCullum (KKR), Stephen Fleming (CSK), Mahela Jayawardene ( Mumbai Indians), Trevor Bayliss (Sunrisers), Simon Katich (RCB) and Andrew McDonald (Rajasthan Royals).
"I would like to see more Indian coaches in the IPL. It is not a true reflection of the Indian resources. I would want to see many Indians being part of the IPL as head coaches," Kings XI Punjab head coach Kumble told a select online media interaction on Tuesday.
"It is a bit of an irony --- one Indian as head coach. I think at some point of time there will be a lot more Indian coaches,"
Speaking from Dubai, where the team has been based since August 20, Kumble said his players are in good shape both mentally and physically while going about their job in IPL's strict bio-bubble.
KXIP, who have never won the IPL, are aiming to go all the way this time with a strong squad at their disposal. Picking the best Indian players in the playing eleven will be tough but it seems picking the four overseas recruits will be even tougher as they are spoilt for choice.
Asked if 40-year-old Chris Gayle will continue to play bulk of the games like he did in the past two seasons, Kumble said Gayle would also be more involved within the leadership group this season and his mentor's role will be as important as his big hitting at the top of the order.
The other overseas players in KXIP are Glenn Maxwell, Chris Jordan, Jimmy Neesham, the in-form Nicholas Pooran, Mujeeb Zadran, Hardus Viljoen and Sheldon Cottrell who was bought for a whopping Rs 8.5 crore.
"We still have to see the conditions at the main ground as we have been practising (at ICC Academy). Chris has a major role even as player and even otherwise.
"His leadership, his experience, the youngsters look up to him. It is not just Chris the batsman we are looking at but Chris in a leadership role in terms of his contribution to developing young players. I want him to be active on the mentorship role," Kumble said.
The coach said that a few practise games will give him an idea about the combinations he is looking for.
"Not just foreign players picking Indian players will be a challenge. We have a few practise games that will we will tell us (the best combination)," said Kumble in a response to a PTI query.
The former India captain said the team has plugged the gaps with Maxwell's comeback and a fast bowler who can be also effective in the death in Cottrell.
"We have a strong team. We needed an impact player in the middle and not just with batting and fielding and Maxwell is also handy with the ball. And the fast bowler who bowls at the death (lCottrell)."
Seeing the bright side of being in a protected environment, Kumble said three weeks of training will allow the support staff to know the players better, especially the younger lot.
"The reason I have taken up (the role) is that we have great squad to go all the way. My role is preparing the team to achieve success. I don't want to go too far ahead, one game at a time.
"(After arriving in Dubai), it was my first time meeting with the whole squad. Because of the COVID situation (and bio-bubble), we are able spend more time with the team than usual. That way we have been able to understand not just seniors but even the younger lot.
Temperament will be key, said world's third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket
"It is about holding nerves. There will be moments, IPL it is not a smooth ride always. We need to focus on what we can achieve, not worry about other teams. We are confident we would be able to achieve that."
KXIP have a lot of Karnataka players in the squad including new captain KL Rahul and his opening partner Mayank Agarwal.
Kumble too is from Karnataka and in his own words "that helps" but he also makes a conscious attempt to interact with other boys in their own language.
"I also try to put on a Punjabi accent with the Punjabi boys and keep them entertained with the little Punjabi I speak."
Asked if the recently retired M S Dhoni will play with the IPL with extra motivation, Kumble added: "I don't understand what extra motivation is. All of us are motivated.
"Knowing MS, he will give his 100 percent. Even when I played the IPL, the second season, I had retired from international cricket."
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Narcotic substances worth Rs 11.50 cr seized, two people arrested
Bengaluru (PTI): Two alleged interstate drug peddlers, including a woman, have been arrested with narcotic substances worth Rs 11.50 crore, police said on Tuesday.
The arrests were made recently following a raid conducted by the Narcotics Control Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bagalur police station limits, they said.
Police said 8,335 LSD strips, five kg of Hydro Ganja, 534 grams of Charas, two mobile phones and a two-wheeler were seized from their possession.
"Based on a tip-off, two interstate drug peddlers, including a woman, were apprehended. Both had been residing in Bengaluru for the past year and were involved in an organised illegal drug distribution network. They were receiving narcotic substances from a Kerala-based individual residing in Thailand and distributing them to customers as per his instructions, thereby earning illegal profits," a senior police officer said.
Addressing a press conference here, Seemant Kumar Singh said this was the first time such a huge quantity of LSD had been recovered in Bengaluru.
“We are trying to find out from where it has been sourced and where it was meant to be supplied. We have some specific inputs about the intended targets. However, without concrete evidence, we cannot conclude. We are working to establish how such a huge quantity was procured and for whom it was meant,” he said.
Singh added that further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and identify those involved in the distribution network.
A case has been registered against them under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) at Bagalur Police Station, and further investigation is in progress, police said.
In another operation, 1.5 kg Hydro Ganja was seized by the officials at K G Nagar police station here, police said.
The contraband had been smuggled via international parcel services and cleverly concealed inside chocolate and biscuit boxes to avoid suspicion, and the estimated value is Rs 1.5 crore, the officer said.
A case has been registered, and efforts are ongoing to trace the accused, police said.
An interstate accused was arrested in the Whitefield police station limits, for selling narcotic drugs on March 1, they said.
Police said 27.239 kg Ganja, 3.200 kg Hashish Oil, along with the two-wheeler used in the crime, with a total worth of Rs 55 lakh was seized from him, they added.
In a separate operation, two foreign women who were overstaying their visas were apprehended within the limits of Mico Layout Police Station, officials said.
They have been handed over to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and subsequently sent to the Foreigners Detention Centre as per legal procedures, they added.
