Updated September 22nd, 2019 at 22:27 IST

Vinod Rai answers the big questions: On Kumble, Shastri, Kohli & Dhoni

Committee of Administrators chief, Vinod Rai was asked in an interview by a publication whether Virat Kohli was responsible for Ravi Shastri’s re-election

Reported by: Pritesh Kamath
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Committee of Administrators chief Vinod Rai was asked in an interview by a publication whether Virat Kohli was responsible for Ravi Shastri’s re-election as the coach, and former coach Anil Kumble’s ouster. Rai has responded saying that Anil Kumble was elected for one year as the coach of the Indian cricket team and there was no clause of extension in Kumble’s contract.  

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Rai was in favour of Kumble's extension

Rai said he was in favour of Kumble’s extension if approved by a certain committee. But since Kumble’s contract did not have an extension clause, a certain process had to be followed that is to call for fresh applications and conduct interviews to select the right person. Rai says he doesn’t know what happened between Virat Kohli and Kumble when the process of coach selection was going on.

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'Shastri has performed well as coach'

He further stated that he doesn’t know how many coaches have been superior to Shastri but Shastri has managed to keep the team ready and fighting in every aspect and has performed well as a coach. 

Rai has also said that the blame for the loss against New Zealand at the World Cup which ended India’s run cannot be entirely put on Virat Kohli as it is not entirely a captain’s fault when the team performs badly. 

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With regards to Dhoni wearing gloves with insignia of his army regiment in the World Cup and being asked to remove, Rai stated that it was an oversight and Rai did not know the rules of ICC that only the team's or manufacturer's insignia is allowed on the gloves.

India was considered the favourites in the World Cup 2019 and the Indian team didn’t let them down until the New Zealand match in which India suffered defeat leading to World Cup ouster.

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Published September 22nd, 2019 at 17:07 IST