India vs West Indies 2016: Anil Kumble wants to coach Team India the "Indian way"

Anil Kumble was selected as the Indian coach for the next one year last month

Newly appointed Indian coach Anil Kumble has stated that he wants his boys to play the “Indian way.” The former player wants to instil the sense of “feeling of Indianness” in the team. He wants to incorporate the “best practices” in Indian culture in the way the players communicate with each other. India’s tour of West Indies is going to be the first series under his charge.

The confusion and drama revolving around the coach selection for the Indian Cricket Team have drawn attention towards Anil Kumble. It will be interesting to see how Kumble manages to deliver in the upcoming series. India will play a four-test series in the Caribbean beginning on 21st July.

As per the reports of Hindustan Times, “It’s important we create an Indian way. I don’t mean to say sledging is not Indian culture or is somebody else’s culture. What I meant is, you would want to bring a feeling of Indianness-that is, extended family, respected for one another.”

“Take all the best practices in Indian culture, mesh them in a way that all of us own what we want to be seen as, known as, how do you want to play the game, how do we want to practice, how do want to be seen as an Indian Team.”

“The best practices in the Indian family would be, generally, follow what elders say, but here we want to be a bit more open and express our views even if they differ from that of his seniors. Here it is having family values and say, if a senior has taken a decision, I will follow it. However, you should have the freedom to disagree but in a more civilised way, where everyone has the opportunity to express himself.”

India left for the Caribbean tour following a five-day training camp in Bangalore. Kumble was happy with the players’ response to new ideas during the camp. Speaking on the matter, Kumble said,”This group is very open to ideas and I must confess, given the current generation and the way they are perceived, I thought getting them into a room for an hour or so, they won’t be listening or responding. But I was surprised to see that not only were they receptive and embraced new ideas, nut we spent more time than what was stipulated.”

Anil Kumble is India’s highest wicket taker in Tests and third highest ever by a cricketer.