Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

We played for 15 years, Kumble didn't fight with anyone: Harbhajan

Last updated on: May 31, 2017 22:25 IST

'If someone has issues with Kumble, he should go and talk to him because he is a person of respect and as per my experience, he can't have issues with anyone.'

IMAGE: Harbhajan Singh with Anil Kumble. Photograph: Reuters

Harbhajan Singh has come out in support of his longtime team mate Anil Kumble amid reports of rift between the current India coach and captain Virat Kohli.

"Only present players will be able to tell what his relations with Anil bhai are," Harbhajan said in London on Wednesday.

"In my 15 years of playing with him, there has been no instance of any fight with him and he is the best bowling mind in cricket, he is always there to help."

"He has been brilliant and he has played a major role in making me what I am today and I would like to thank him for that," the off-spinner added.

The impressive performance of the Indian team under Kumble in the past one year speaks for itself, said Harbhajan.

"Anil Kumble is strict, you can always talk to him about cricket. He is very hard working and believes that one shouldn't leave the match till the last ball.

"He is strict but he responds to hard work more than just talent. As a coach, I am sure he is going to bring a lot of good to Indian cricket. One can also see his results of last year."

Speaking out of his own experience, the off-spinner said Kumble is not that sort of a person who will have issues with the players.

"I am not a part of this team so I don't know how Anil bhai is running the team and I don't talk to players about what is going on and all.

"If someone has issues with Kumble, he should go and talk to him because he is a person of respect and as per my experience, he can't have issues with anyone."

"Conversation is the key to solving the issue, if there is any. He is someone who is at the top and there is no one who can fill his shoes easily," Harbhajan added.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.