Kumble steps down as India coach

India legend Anil Kumble's tenure as head coach of the national side is over after the working relationship with captain, and star player, Virat Kohli became 'untenable'.

Speculation continued to mount surrounding Kumble's future, before the governing body confirmed the nation's all-time leading Test wicket-taker had stepped down.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirms that Mr Anil Kumble has withdrawn his services as the post of the Head Coach for the Senior India Men's team," the BCCI said in a statement Tuesday night.

"While the Cricket Advisory Committee had endorsed an extension to his tenure as Head Coach, Mr Anil Kumble has decided not to continue as the coach."

Following the official announcement, Kumble took to Twitter to release a statement of his own in which he addressed the fractured relationship with Kohli.

"I was informed for the first time yesterday by the BCCI that the captain had reservations with my 'style' and about my continuing as the head coach," Kumble said in the social media post.

"I was surprised since I had always respected the role boundaries between captain and coach.

"Though the BCCI attempted to resolve the misunderstandings between the captain and me, it was apprarent that the partnership was untenable, and I therefore believe it is best for me to move on."

India begin a five-match one-day international series against the West Indies in Port of Spain on Friday, and Kumble has remained in London for International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings. The 46-year-old sits on the ICC's cricket committee.

Dr. MV Sridhar, the BCCI's current General Manager of Cricket Operations, will oversee team management on the limited-overs tour of the Caribbean.

The BCCI had previously indicated they wanted Kumble to stay on for the Windies tour despite re-advertising his job ahead of the Champions Trophy and with his contract expired after the showpiece 50-over event.

Rumours of a rift between Kumble and captain Virat Kohli swirled during their campaign, which ended in defeat on Sunday when Pakistan defeated the defending champions by 180 runs in the final.

The BCCI's move to seek fresh candidates for the head coaching position ahead of the 50-over showpiece event raised eyebrows given the team’s outstanding success during Kumble's tenure.

READ: Kohli comments on Kumble relationship

India are the No.1 ranked Test side in the world, and have won 12 of 17 matches in the longest format since Kumble took over. They remain third on the ICC's ODI standings.

The BCCI have appointed former greats Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to head up a 'cricket advisory committee' tasked with appointing a coach.

Former Australia allrounder Tom Moody and mercurial ex-India opener Virender Sehwag were among the applicants.

The Indian press had suggested cracks in the Kohli-Kumble relationship prompted the BCCI to hunt for a new coach, with applications for the position having closed at the end of May.

The Times of India reported that players were not happy with Kumble's 'hard task-master' approach, and that the captain and coach had several run-ins during this year's home series against Australia.

But former India captain Sunil Gavaskar indicated a little friction between captain and coach is nothing out of the ordinary.

"You will never have a situation when the captain and coach of any country is on the same page," Gavaskar said in London earlier this month.

"It is impossible for that to happen because the coach had played in the earlier generation and that's why the approach may be slightly different from the current generation.

"It might not be something actually happening on the field – it could be something to do with practice sessions or team combinations."