REVEALED: How Test captain Virat Kohli played game-changing role in Anil Kumble's appointment

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opted for a transparent process to pick India's new coach.

The Indian board was lauded for not just selecting Anil Kumble but also involving legendary cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly in their scheme of things.

While the former India captain's presentation is said to have impressed the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), there was another factor that played a decisive role in Kumble's appointment.

It was in fact Test skipper Virat Kohli who played a game-changing role in Kumble's selection.

After Ravi Shastri fell out of the race, the 21-member list was down to Kumble and Tom Moody.

Both impressed the CAC and BCCI with their roadmap for India cricket, but Virat threw his weight behind Kumble.

“Kumble’s name was finalised following feedback from Kohli. Both Kumble and Moody gave very impressive presentations. In fact, the Australian became a serious choice, given his coaching pedigree. But Kohli wanted Kumble with an eye to improve the performance of the spinners overseas. Spinners don’t win us Tests outside the subcontinent and Kohli felt Kumble could play an important role in this regard,” a BCCI insider told the Indian Express.

It was earlier reported that Virat's preferred choice for the top job was Shastri. However with the former team director no longer in the picture, the Delhi batsman opted for Kumble with an eye on improving India's overseas Test record.