Former Indian captain and leg-spinner Anil Kumble has been announced as the next head coach of the Indian cricket team. The Board of Control for Cricket in India made the announcement at a press conference attended by its president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke on Thursday.

"After discussion and deliberation, we have decided that Anil Kumble will be the next head coach of the Indian cricket team for the next one year," announced Thakur.

Kumble was one of the front-runners of the post as soon as the news emerged that he was among the applicants for the position. With 619 wickets, he is India's highest Test wicket taker. After retiring from international cricket in 2008, he mentored Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

The former India captain also has administrative experience under his belt, having served as the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association and is also the chairman of the International Cricket Council Cricket Committee.

However, Kumble does not fulfill one of the criteria set by the BCCI for the job, which is to have some coaching experience at the international or first-class level. Kumble has no coaching experience, but has mentored two Indian Premier League teams – Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.