Former India captain Anil Kumble has said that he enjoyed his stint as the head coach of the national team despite the unpleasant ending.
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During his one-year term, Kumble turned out to be one of the most successful coaches with India excelling in all formats of the game, especially in Test cricket. But due to differences arising between him and skipper Virat Kohli, the legendary spinner stepped down from his post following the 2017 Champions Trophy.
"I was very happy that I took up that role [India coach]. It was great, the one year I spent with the Indian team was really fantastic," Kumble told former Zimbabwe cricketer-turned-commentator Pommie Mbangwa in an Instagram live session.
"Having been with great performers and again being a part of the Indian dressing room is a great feeling.
"We did really well in that one year period. I was really happy that there were some contributions made and there are no regrets. I was happy moving on from there as well. I know the end could have been better but then that's fine.
"As a coach, you realise, when it's time to move on, it's the coach who needs to move on. I was really happy I played a significant role in that one year," he added.
Kumble also revealed why he left the Mumbai Indians camp after successfully mentoring the IPL franchise.
"Being a part of the IPL, first with RCB as a mentor and then with Mumbai Indians as a mentor, it was really satisfying and heartening because we won the IPL for the frist time when I was part of the Mumbai Indians. Since then, they have never looked back, they have won 4 titles over the last 7 years.
"Of course, I gave a break because my kind, the younger two children, hadn't seen anything other than IPL during their holidays.
"When I completed 3 years with Mumbai Indians, I sort of said I needed to take a break and take the kids on a holiday,” he remarked.
The great leg-spinner said he had got the go-ahead from his family to take up the India coach job when he applied for the post in 2016.
"When I returned I saw an ad calling for the coach for the Indian team. I then sort of asked around the family, I asked my wife what she thought. She said 'yeah, give it a go.' I said 'see it means back to playing days, probably worse off because you tend to travel a lot more'. She said 'it's okay'. The kids are young, these 2 are young, the older one, probably, she is on her own. She said 'it's fine, you carry on. Apply, there is no harm in applying'.
"I got that job. It was because the sort of comfort I had with my family and kids, I took it up."
Anil Kumble was appointed as the head coach of Kings XI Punjab in the lead up to the IPL 2020 and he is eagerly looking forward to his fresh stint.
"I am now looking forward to being a part of Kings XI team. Over the 12 years, Kings have been able to consistently do well. So whenever the IPL happens, I am looking forward to being part of the dressing room again," he concluded.
