Just days ago, Virat Kohli could do no wrong in the minds of the cricket-mad Indian public. He was winning games for India with panache and swagger.
The last few days, though, have not been the smoothest for the 28-year-old. If India’s unexpected humbling at the hands of Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final wasn’t enough, coach Anil Kumble surprised everyone by stepping down from his post after a vastly successful one-year tenure.
We are unsure if it was the double or something else, but the folks over on Twitter have been left reeling. Tweets have been flowing thick and fast over Kumble’s decision to step down, with Kohli getting slammed for his hand in forcing Kumble to move on.
A legend had a sly tweet up his sleeve
My biggest teachers was coach Uwe.I hated him!But stuck with him for 20 years.He always told me things I did not want to hear.#justsaying
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) June 20, 2017
A former cricketer weighed in
India are losing a Great man in @anilkumble1074 ... realty hope he stays in some role .... far too good a bloke to lose ... #India
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 20, 2017
The Bollywood analogy
Anil Kumble is like Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3.
— Harihar Goswami (@harihar_goswami) June 20, 2017
Just too good for the team maybe.
Virender Sehwag, on the other hand is like Uday Chopra.
Ego tussle
Some folk failed to wrap their heads around something so trivial as a difference in opinion. Clearly, Indian cricket has become commonplace for fragile egos and delusional ‘superstars’
Anil Kumble as Indian cricket coach was best thing to happen to Team India, why egos are so bloated that things can't be sorted out?
— Prashant Navadgi (@pnavadgi) June 20, 2017
The ‘warrior’ from the past
If one grew up watching cricket in the 1990s and the early 2000s, Kumble was a key figure in the star-studded Indian side. What he lacked in guile and artistry, he made up with his unlimited reserves of will, and maximising what he was good at.
Some of them turned nostalgic and went back to the summer of 2002, where a heavily bandaged Kumble came out to fight for his team’s cause against West Indies and dismissed star batsman Brian Lara.
Anil Kumble is a man who prided himself in playing for India, not even a broken jaw could stop him. And then, there is Kohli. pic.twitter.com/Yta1wdjhmp
— Sumit Agarwal (@sumit138) June 20, 2017
This isn't a right way to treat a gentleman of cricket. Kohli can't be like Dhoni at all.
— Romil Patel (@romilpatel96) June 20, 2017
This team doesn't deserve Anil Kumble.!#Respect
Dhoni was 10 times better leader than Virat Kohli. I have no hesitations in saying this.
— Siddharth Jha (@jha_siddhus94) June 20, 2017
Remember Kohli, Anil Kumble is an all time Legend.
Arrogant and Egoistic
A vast majority of the fans turned the heat on Kohli, questioning his so-called ego and attitude. There were some who demanded answers for how a coach was not given a contract extension despite boasting of a successful track record.
Indian team can't win any trophy until virat is captain. He must be sacked from the captaincy. His arrogance made Anil kumble leave the job.
— Brajesh sharma (@ImBr11) June 20, 2017
Sad to see Anil Kumble has to go this way!! Superstar Kohli doesn't need any coach! He'll like only someone like Ravi Shastri!
— Emerald Archer (@KaushikNG) June 20, 2017
Don't make Rahul Dravid as the coach of team India, if Kohli didn't listen to Anil Kumble there is no way that he will listen to Dravid.
— porika vikas (@porika3) June 20, 2017
Anil Kumble's resignation shows player is bigger than performance.This will take Indian Cricket on a sorry path in the near future#Respect
— Sumit Agarwal (@sumit138) June 20, 2017
Anil Kumble sir u deserve a better place than this coach post as nowadays players becomes egoistic & they don't want coach. @anilkumble1074
— Sahil Malhotra (@msahil143) June 20, 2017
Anil Kumble is a real hero and a man of self esteem. He bowled for India even with a fractured jaw. What a fighter. Sir u deserve better.
— Ramanand Choube (@ramosinfinite) June 20, 2017
Vividly remember this moment when with a broken jaw Anil Kumble came out to play for his country. We had tears of pride in our eyes. 🇮🇳👏👍🙏 pic.twitter.com/gYYWuTMXfo
— Abhishek (@abhishaek) June 20, 2017
It is sad to see Anil Kumble go, such a legend, after a shoddy performance of the cricket team and average captaincy
— Santos (@santosthehero) June 20, 2017
Black spot on Indian cricket...Kohli's bad attitude shld be blamed for legend departure The Anil Kumble https://t.co/YyNxmz9VCz
— Varun Yadav (@varun0211) June 20, 2017
so sad ....such a legend....no nonsense person Anil kumble had to pay price for some Arrogant person...worst days of Indian cricket
— Naveen Kumar B R (@naveen95263) June 20, 2017
Dear @imVkohli, I love you but if Anil Kumble resigned because of you then this time You have disappointed me So much.
— Principle Patel (@PatelSiddhant_) June 20, 2017
You Win,We lost. pic.twitter.com/NlK1Wx0o0y
Sad that Anil Kumble has to step down. Kohli may be great as a batsman but his arrogance will hurt India badly. Better BCCI scraps the coach
— Sanjeev Kumar Verma (@sanjeevkverma) June 20, 2017
Not Everyone Can Keep Legs Grounded Despite Reaching Heights Of Sky. Sachin Tendulkar Is Called "God" For A Reason.
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) June 20, 2017
Miss You Anil Kumble😢 pic.twitter.com/J4vT8MP5hD
Anil Kumble made to resign!
— Yash Sharma (@yashrma) June 20, 2017
Fear that a time will come when even administrators wil b decided by captain. Not a good sign for Indian Cricket
All the agencies and institution's in India are compromised with the seal of the center. Anil Kumble is no puppet to be controlled. Politics
— Awakened Indian (@tweetayana) June 20, 2017
Huge loss Anil kumble Steap Down team indian's head coach,Its big loss Shame on u @imVkohli u r totally fake or selfish #KumbleStepsDown
— Niranjan sharma (@IMniranjan791) June 20, 2017
Kohli finally gets his away around Anil Kumble. I'd say, it's Indian team's loss, but doesn't look like they care. #EgoIssues
— Harsh Shah (@harsh_shah811) June 20, 2017
Sad day, Anil Kumble, the honest, the man of integrity, leaves... Sad.
— Rohit Shrivastava (@rohitbhopali) June 20, 2017
Anil Bhai, you will always be my role model.