Kolkata, June 23। Welcoming the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to appoint former India skipper Anil Kumble as head coach for the next one year, several cricketers on Thursday took to Twitter to wish the legendary leg-spinner.
Retired swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag, who had been Kumble’s team-mate for years said the ex-leggie who once bowled with a broken jaw in Antigua would be an inspiration for the players in the dressing room.
"Jumbo news 4Team India. Congrats @anilkumble1074. To have a coach who cud play wid broken jaw wud be an inspiration fr guys in dressing room," Sehwag wrote on the social networking site.
Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan also greeted the 45-year-old saying, "Congratulations sir @anilkumble1074 on becoming the coach of #TeamIndia! Looking forward to the long season ahead @BCCI."
Even legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi expressed his happiness over the appointment.
"Kumble congrats Son!Well deserved honour!Am glad fr Indn Crkt-Gud job BCCI-wish Kumble was given 2/3 yrs 'cos his precision demands that..," he posted.
Out of favour English batsman Kevin Pietersen wrote, ”Anil Kumble the new Indian coach. Wonderful news for a great man! Best wishes, buddy!”
With 619 Test scalps, the 45-year-old Kumble is the highest Indian and third highest after Muttiah Muratharan and Shane Warne in the all-time wicket-takers list.
Kumble, who spearheaded the Indian bowling attack for more than a decade, mentored Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and was also the chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA)and BCCI's Technical Committee.