Years after one of the most high-profile coaching controversies in Indian cricket history, former explosive opener Virender Sehwag has lifted the lid on why he rejected the chance to manage Team India. Back in 2017, following a high-voltage public falling out between then-captain Virat Kohli and head coach Anil Kumble during the Champions Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) urgently sought a replacement. While Sehwag was a front-runner for the position, a strict set of non-negotiable conditions ultimately kept him away from the dugout, clearing the path for Ravi Shastri’s appointment.
How Virender Sehwag Was Approached Amid the Kohli-Kumble Fallout
The turbulent exit of Anil Kumble in 2017—just a year after taking charge in 2016—sent shockwaves through Indian cricket as reports of an irreconcilable rift between him and captain Virat Kohli surfaced. Speaking in a recent interview, Sehwag revealed that he never intended to apply for the high-pressure coaching role. However, direct intervention by the team leadership changed the equation. Sehwag recalled that the then-BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary and Virat Kohli personally approached him, stating that things were strained with Kumble and requesting that he step in. The board proposed that Sehwag transition straight from his commentary duties at the 2017 Champions Trophy to taking over the squad for the upcoming West Indies tour.
Sehwag’s Strict Conditions and Demands That Halted the Deal
Though the advisory committee comprising cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman made Sehwag’s candidacy extremely strong, the deal collapsed over administrative terms. Sehwag made it clear to the board leadership that while he was open to considering the prestigious role, he required absolute autonomy over his backroom staff. He specified that he would only take charge if he had the liberty to handpick every member of his support staff, including the assistant coach, batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach, team physio, and trainer. When the BCCI failed to agree to these comprehensive structural demands, Sehwag chose to withdraw his application, prompting the board to appoint Ravi Shastri as the head coach.