Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Anil Kumble
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Coaching appointments for the Indian national cricket team receive huge media attention and often become important current affairs questions. At a particular time during the mid 2010s, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, commonly known as the BCCI, appointed a former legendary Indian bowler as the head coach of the national side. This question checks whether you remember which of the listed personalities was chosen as the coach then.
Given Data / Assumptions:
• The focus is on an appointment as the coach of the Indian national cricket team.
• The appointing authority is the BCCI.
• The names given include Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and S. R. Kulkarni.
Concept / Approach:
Among the given names, Anil Kumble, a legendary Indian leg spinner, was officially appointed head coach of the Indian team by the BCCI around 2016. While Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid have also been involved with Indian cricket in various roles, at that specific time it was Anil Kumble who held the formal head coach position. Recognizing the timeline of appointments and the key role played by Kumble in that period leads you directly to the correct answer.
Step-by-Step Solution:
• Step 1: Recall that the BCCI conducted an application and interview process to select a new head coach for India.
• Step 2: Remember that Anil Kumble was chosen after this process and took charge as the head coach.
• Step 3: Note that Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid have mostly served in other capacities, such as team mentors, under 19 coaching and administration roles.
• Step 4: Recognize that S. R. Kulkarni is not known as a national team head coach.
• Step 5: Conclude that among the options, Anil Kumble is the person who was appointed as the new coach by the BCCI.
Verification / Alternative check:
Media coverage from that time, including press conferences and official BCCI announcements, introduced Anil Kumble as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Match broadcasts during his tenure often showed him in the dressing room and on the field interacting with players in that capacity. In contrast, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid were publicly linked to board roles and junior team coaching roles respectively. These observations confirm that the correct answer is Anil Kumble.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Sourav Ganguly: He has been BCCI President and a former captain, but not the head coach at that time.
• Rahul Dravid: He served as coach of junior and India A teams and later as senior team coach, but at the time referred to in this question, it was Kumble who had the appointment.
• S. R. Kulkarni: Not associated with the role of head coach of the Indian national cricket team.
Common Pitfalls:
Examinees often confuse different coaching and administrative roles due to the high profile careers of Ganguly and Dravid. Another pitfall is assuming that a great batsman or captain must automatically have been the coach at some point. To avoid errors, remember the specific timeline when Anil Kumble, the former leg spinner, was formally appointed head coach by the BCCI.
Final Answer:
The person appointed as the new coach of the Indian national cricket team by the BCCI was Anil Kumble.
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