Rahul Dravid, not Anil Kumble was BCCI's first choice as India head coach

New Delhi: The recent appointment of former India skipper Anil Kumble as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team has drawn many praises from cricketers, both current and retired, from across the globe. However, the 45-year-old was not the first choice of the BCCI.

"I requested Rahul Dravid to coach the Indian team. He didn't say no, but said that he will work for the junior team,” BCCI President Anurag Thakur told NDTV on Thursday.

Thakur revealed that Kumble was the second choice for the job. After Dravid expressed his desire to work with the junior team the Karnataka cricketer was made head coach by the Cricket Advsiory Committee comprising veterans Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.

Read: 'It's a great honour to be back in Indian dressing room,' says Anil Kumble

“That is the good thing about Dravid. He didn’t go for the senior team post, big money and all. He wanted to work for the junior cricketers and not the senior team,” Thakur heaped praise on the Delhi Daredevils mentor.

Dravid was never too keen on taking up the head coach job with Team India. “I can only do short-term assignments, I can’t stay away from home for long periods of time, short assignments suit me better,” he had said earlier.

With the Under-19 team Dravid achieved brisk success as the Ishan Kishan-led side were runners-up of the Under-19 World Cup.

Also Read: Coaches come later, it is always players first: Kumble

Thakur also said, “BCCI has been very transparent. We fixed a criteria. There was the Cricket Advisory Committee as well. They have gone through the process, interviewed and recommended few names. After discussions with various stakeholders, we have decided that Anil Kumble will be the head coach of the Indian cricket team for the next one year.”