Will Kumble's involvement revive Indian bowling?

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  • Will Anil Kumble be Indian bowlers' safety net?

    One of the major concerns plaguing Indian cricket for decades now has been that consistency is a word Indian bowlers often seem to leave out of their vocabulary.

    Instances of tearing apart opposition batsmen are rarer than white tigers, and it is their own batsmen who end up shouldering the responsibility of taking the team across the line more often than they would like.

    It’s a widely acknowledged fact, one without solution. Or at least, that was until legendary spinner Anil Kumble was made head coach.

    India have had bowling coaches, mental conditioning coaches and physiotherapists, but each has failed to inspire the bowlers to the extent of winning matches on their own with regularity.

    Anil Kumble's international record

    • Matches: 403
    • Wickets: 956 @ 30.09
    • BBI: 10/74 (Test), 6/12 (ODI)
    • MOM: 10 (Test), 6 (ODI)

    Of course, flat tracks across the country – and the world, in fact – must take their share of blame, with pitches such as the ones against South Africa last year having to be created in order to heavily sway conditions in favour of India bowlers.

    But that’s for another day, and it is still to be seen if the India quicks could make an impact even on responsive pitches.

    It is precisely here that Kumble steps in, a man who said this after taking up the reigns as head coach…

    At this point in time, I thought I can get close to the bowlers, for a start. Yes, we are considering options, I don’t want to say what because this is my first trip as coach with the team and I’d like to observe and try and see how the team is shaping up.

    I thought that with the bowlers, it is the strategy that I can certainly play a part of and that’s something which I am looking at, trying to get closer to the bowlers, understanding what their needs are and then looking at probably bringing in, if you are looking at a fast bowling coach I think is what you are trying to say.

    There are considerations that I am thinking of but at this point, I don’t know if it will be possible to take someone to the West Indies. If that doesn’t happen, then certainly I am keen to look at the bowlers. I feel that that is certainly an area where I can contribute a lot more.

    The sheer number of times he uttered the word ‘bowler’ confirms the emphasis Kumble will place on this department.

    He doesn’t adhere to the norms of diplomacy and prefers calling a spade, a spade. He doesn’t hog the limelight making sensational comments, but he minces no words when it comes to business.

    These will be crucial assets in ensuring a bowling revolution within the India camp.

    WHERE OTHERS WENT WRONG

    Indian quicks were often ordinary during Duncan Fletcher's tenure

    Indian quicks were often ordinary during Duncan Fletcher’s tenure

    The majority of past Team India head coaches have gone through two phases in regards to attempting to address the bowling problem – firstly, denial and then acceptance.

    A few tried to turn things around, but none could improve the predicament. With none of them in recent years being front-line bowlers during their own playing days, they either cast the matter aside or appointed a separate bowling coach for that purpose, passing the buck to someone else.

    The appointment of India’s most successful spinner is therefore an exciting prospect. Kumble’s hands-on approach will not only benefit the spin department, but should also infuse confidence in India’s bowlers as a whole.

    His belief that he can contribute greatly in that area may just be an indication of a paradigm shift in Indian cricket’s modus operandi.

    Here is a coach who sees bowling as a priority, and not just a side topic that can be taken care of later on. Kumble is a disciplinarian; he is firm, unyielding and commands respect. He is the man who can take India bowlers from being inconspicuous to becoming match-winners in their own right.

    LACK OF A PROPER MENTOR

    The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel and Barinder Sran can benefit from Kumble's mentorship

    The likes of Bumrah, Thakur, Patel and Sran can benefit from Kumble’s mentoring

    To be fair, the inconsistency is not directly proportional to a lack of talent. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal are immensely talented, and they are only the tip of the iceberg.

    There is promise and there is skill, but there hasn’t been proper guidance. That’s the challenge Kumble, with his experience and man-management skills, faces.

    In the aftermath of India’s loss against Australia in 2014, former skipper Sourav Ganguly said: “Our bowlers have targeted middle-stump. The reason why (Nathan) Lyon has picked so many wickets is because he has focused on the region just outside off. That is the right place.”

    These are the small problems that Kumble can help fix.

    One of the key takeaways from Kumble’s first press conference after taking the role was the fact that he emphasised building the team, even outside the established playing eleven.

    While you can be confident of him picking the best eleven at all times, addressing players in reserve and harbouring greater communication will only amplify the positivity inside the dressing room.

    THE BENEFITS OF HAVING AN INDIAN FOR COACH

    Communication will be easier with India's new head coach

    Communication will be easier with India’s new head coach

    His former team-mates swear by Kumble’s philosophy and leadership qualities when he was captain. Being a thinking cricketer, his vast knowledge of the game and ability to read the opposition’s mind are second to nonw.

    What, however, sets him apart as a coach is his proactiveness, fighting spirit and that he goes about his business with minimal fuss.

    Kumble isn’t one for small talk and having risen through the ranks with years of dedication, he understands the nuances of Indian cricket better than anyone else.

    He realises the specific requirements of not just the spinners but also the fast-bowlers. Moreover, he is eager to work on them and improve the players not only as a unit but as individuals as well.

    It may turn out that the answer to India’s bowling woes might not have been as simple as that the previous coaches having placed the same priority on the department as the batting.

    Kumble’s appointment will soon reveal whether that is the case. Change may not be apparent in the immediate future, but the wheels have certainly begun to turn.

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