Anil Kumble pips Ravi Shastri to become new coach of Team India

Out of the 57 candidates who had applied for the job, Shastri and Kumble were the two most high-profile cricketers who made their presentations before the Cricket Advisory Committee.

New Delhi: The Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) on Wednesday appointed Anil Kumble as the new coach of the Indian cricket team.

Speculations were rife that Kumble, who has been one of the finest cricketers in world cricket, was the frontrunner for the top job.

Kumble is said to have bowled over the 'holy trinity' of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman with his detailed impressive presentation during the interview process.

The 45-year-old was a chief mentor for IPL franchise Mumbai Indians for two years after a similar role with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

But now that he quit as Mumbai's mentor last year, he doesn’t have any major conflict of interest issues to deal with.

Earlier in the day, BCCI president Anurag Thakur, who is attending Annual BCCI cricket conclave in Dharamsala, said that the name of the new coach will be announced before today evening.

"We are hopeful that the name will be announced before today evening," Thakur said.

The BCCI-appointed high-profile Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman completed the interview process in Kolkata on Tuesday, where they interviewed six to seven candidates.

Out of the ones who were shortlisted, Shastri and Kumble were the two most high-profile cricketers who made their presentations.

While Kumble was present in person, Shastri gave the interview through video as he is currently said to be in Thailand.

Kumble, Pravin Amre and Lalachand Rajput met Ganguly, Laxman and Tendulkar - who joined via video conference from London, while former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale who is the 'coordinator' of the selection process, assisted the trio.

Stuart Law, Tom Moody and Andy Moles are other three applicants who are said to have attended the interview process.

The BCCI, after its advertisement on its website for the coach's post, had received 57 applications from both India and outstation aspirants from which the list was trimmed to 21.