Former India coach Madan Lal has expressed his disappointment regarding the Virat and Kumble matter and took the side of Kumble saying that these boys like their ego being boosted. He also said that Kohli’s ego won in the end resulting in resignation of Kumble.
In an interview, he said that players in the team want ‘yes men’ around them. He also added that this has been a trend in the Indian Cricket Team that players get happy when their ego gets boosted and men like Bangar who are happy in doing this suit for this. Madan Lal said, “Anybody who stands in their way and shows them the mirror or questions them back must go. This has always been the trend and happened even when I was coach (1996-97). I had a 45 per cent win record, but even then, I had to leave. The reason was that I was passionate about just winning and wasn’t an expert when it came to man-management. Coaching the Indian team is as much about managing the egos as it is about getting results.”
He also pointed out the reason for foreign coaches to be successful as they remain in background and did not force the players to change neither did they question them and that is also the reason for their long terms.
Saying more about the Kumble-Kohli rift, Lal added, “But this is the trend in Indian cricket. The players are the bosses. It has happened over the years and continues to happen. The captain decides everything and it isn’t like Australian or English cricket wherein the players and coaches are on the same pedestal and there is no ‘superstar’ culture. In India, if you have rubbed the captain the wrong way, you are as good as finished. While it is still not clearly known why and how the Kohli-Kumble relation went downhill, Kumble deserved better treatment.”
He further expressed disappointment that Kumble has to go even though he gave so good results.