Virender Sehwag Recalls 2017 Offer for India Head Coach Role Amid Kohli-Kumble Conflict

August 4, 2026

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has shared details regarding an approach made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take over as the head coach of the national team in 2017. The offer followed the departure of Anil Kumble, who stepped down after the 2017 Champions Trophy following an alleged conflict with captain Virat Kohli.

What Happened

In 2017, then-BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary held a formal meeting with Virender Sehwag to discuss the head coach vacancy. Choudhary explained that relations between head coach Anil Kumble, who was appointed in 2016, and captain Virat Kohli were not okay. At the time, Sehwag was commentating for the 2017 Champions Trophy and had not previously considered entering a coaching role.

Choudhary encouraged Sehwag to apply, suggesting he could transition from commentary to lead the Indian team for their upcoming tour of the West Indies once Kumble’s tenure ended. Sehwag noted that he only considered applying because both Kohli and Choudhary directly reached out to him.

However, Sehwag set clear conditions for accepting the role. He requested complete autonomy to choose his own support staff, including his assistant coach, batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach, physio, and trainer. Because he was not granted the selection of his support staff, Sehwag chose not to move forward with the opportunity.

Key Highlights

Then-BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary approached Virender Sehwag in 2017 to apply for the head coach post.
The offer was made due to reported friction between captain Virat Kohli and head coach Anil Kumble.
Sehwag was commentating during the 2017 Champions Trophy when the meeting occurred.
Sehwag conditioned his acceptance on having total freedom to select his entire support staff.
Because full control over support staff selection was not granted, Sehwag withdrew from consideration.
Sehwag was among six applicants for the post, alongside Anil Kumble and Tom Moody, evaluated by a three-member advisory committee of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman.

Why This Matters

This account provides insight into the administrative process and internal discussions during a transition phase in Indian cricket, highlighting how support staff selection criteria influenced prospective coaching candidates.

What to Watch Next

As the source material outlines historic events from 2017, there are no ongoing administrative steps or further official updates associated with this specific selection process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Virender Sehwag approached for the head coach role in 2017?

He was approached by then-BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary following conflict between then-head coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli during the 2017 Champions Trophy.

Why did Virender Sehwag decline the coaching offer?

Sehwag insisted on full autonomy to pick his entire support staff, including his assistant, batting, bowling, and fielding coaches, as well as a physio and trainer. When this condition was not met, he declined the role.

Who were the other candidates and selectors involved?

Sehwag was among six applicants, including Anil Kumble and Tom Moody. The decision was handled by a three-man advisory committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman.

Source: CricTracker