Back off and help players relax: Kumble's learnings from previous coaching stints

Spin great Anil Kumble says one of the biggest learnings from his previous coaching stints, including the controversial one with the Indian team, is to "back off and help the players relax".

Kumble resigned as India head coach after the 2017 Champions Trophy final due to an "untenable relationship" with skipper Virat Kohli though the team did well under his tutelage.

The 48-year-old is back to coaching again, this time as director of cricket operations at Kings XI Punjab. He also held mentorship roles at Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.

"With RCB we did not win the title but we came close a couple of times. With Mumbai, we had wonderful success those three years I was there. It is nice to have the experience of crossing the line. It certainly helps (you as a coach)," Kumble told PTI on Wednesday.

"It is all about a game of cricket at the end of it. If you simplify like that the job becomes a lot easier. The moment you start putting importance to result, wins, trophies then it puts more pressure on the players. So the learning is just to back off and help the players relax and when they are relaxed they tend to perform better."
"Generally because of certain results you tend to start looking at other teams and that starts influencing your decision and that is the last thing you want."
"Ashwin had a wonderful two years but of course we did not get the right results but we have not made any decision who the captain will be."