Kumble was India’s head coach from 2016 to 2017 and was the person in cost at Punjab Kings from 2020 to 2022.
When Anil Kumble took over as India’s head coach, great things were expected. A year later, the legendary leg-spinner was out. Although it has never been confirmed, it’s largely accepted that Kumble had a falling out with then-India captain Virat Kohli.
Reports suggested that Kumble had chided players after Pakistan beat India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. This apparently didn’t go down well with Kohli. Soon after, Kumble was gone.
Disrespected by Kumble & Punjab Kings, says Gayle
In 2020, two years after leaving his previous coaching role, Kumble took over as the Punjab Kings‘ head coach and director of cricket operations, a position he held until 2022. During this period, Chris Gayle also had a falling out with Kumble. The reason was the same as Kohli’s; the coach was way too authoritative.
“My IPL ended prematurely with Punjab. To be honest, I was disrespected at Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). I felt I wasn’t treated properly as a senior player who had done so much for the league and brought value to the franchise. Instead, they treated me like a kid. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was slipping into depression,” Gayle said on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast.
After joining Punjab in 2018, Gayle had a good run until 2019. However, his form slipped. In his last two IPL seasons, 2020 and 2021, he played just 17 matches. Gayle wasn’t happy with how Kumble was treating him and left despite then-captain, KL Rahul, persuading him not to leave.
“Your mental health is more important than money. I called Anil (Kumble) and told him I was leaving. At the time, we had the World Cup and were stuck in a bubble, which was destroying me mentally. After my last game against Mumbai, I thought, ‘This doesn’t make sense. I’ll do myself more damage by staying.’
I broke down talking to Anil because I was really hurt. I was disappointed with him and the way the franchise was run. KL Rahul, the captain, even called me, saying, ‘Chris, stay; you’ll play the next game.’ But I just said, ‘I wish you all the best,’ packed my bag, and walked out. I was mistreated. I am available—if they want me, I’ll come. But yes, I do have grudges. Loyalty means a lot to me,” Gayle said.
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