West Indies vs India 2016: Courtney Walsh feels Anil Kumble will keep India on top

Indian coach Anil Kumble 

Former West Indies captain and fast bowler Courtney Walsh has said that the BCCI made the right decision by appointing the leg-spinner Anil Kumble as the new Indian cricket team coach as “his heart is in the right place”.

Walsh who is a national selector was watching the warm up games at St Kitts. The two (Walsh and Kumble) were enjoying dinner together when he commented on the fact that Kumble is one person who has always wanted to give back something to the sport and his heart is in the right place this time.

Walsh opined that Kumble, having a great career in International cricket where he picked up more than 950 wickets, would command a lot of respect in the dressing room. "They will have immense respect for him because they will have seen him play all those years," Walsh said.

"Plus, Kumble has been involved with cricket quite a lot since he stopped playing and he knows the ins and outs of the current-day game. His passion is second to none, and it reflects in the way they are led by captain Virat Kohli. I like to read body language and you can tell they want to play good cricket, and that this series will be a good one."

The 53-year-old Courtney Walsh, also compared the young and talented India Skipper, Virat Kohli to Kumble as they both love to express themselves on the cricket field.

"He leaves everything on the field and as a leader is passionate about the game and his performances. Kohli is like Kumble in that respect, and as coach, he will be able to guide and help him to achieve success."

"They also have other exciting batting talents, Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma. All of them will be looking to make a mark in this series. I am excited to see them play here, but at the same time, I also don't want them to get too many runs against my team." 

Walsh also commented on the Indian pace attack and said that he can't remember an Indian team coming to Carribean with 3-4 genuine pacers.

“Ishant Sharma looks like the leader of the attack, in control, and he knows what he is doing. Beyond that, I have no clue which ones they will pick for the first Test, which in a way is a good thing for the team management,” added the former West Indian player. 

The first Test begins on July 21st in  Antigua where the two nations will once again face each other on the cricket ground in a bilateral Series.