Kumble's stint begins with training camp in Bengaluru

Anil Kumble will ease into his role as head coach with a week-long training camp in Bengaluru. © Cricaction

Anil Kumble has been a regular visitor to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the garbs of player, spectator, administrator and team mentor. On Wednesday (June 29), he will return to his home ground in a new avatar - as head coach of the Indian cricket team. Nearly eight years after calling time on his international career, the legendary spinner hits the road again, kicking off his stint with a week-long camp for the West Indies-bound team at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

It's his first opportunity to get down to brass tacks with Virat Kohli's side which has a heavy schedule ahead. The importance of the camp cannot be overstated. Kohli and his men are set to feature in 17 Tests matches, 13 of which will be played at home. This apart, they will play eight ODIs and two T20s.

Kumble faces an extraordinary challenge. While there is no doubt that he will bring the tireless work ethic that he followed as a player to his coaching role, he cannot influence the fortunes of the team directly on the field. He will have to steer a young and talented team towards high standards he had set for himself.

The time to fine-tune skills will be limited at the camp but it will give Kumble enough opportunity to ease into his role, study his players first-hand and unveil a short-term plan. Although handed a one-year contract, Kumble had showcased a three-year vision document at the time of his interview with the Cricket Advisory Committee. It is fair to say, he already knows his players pretty well.

His players too are bound to be in awe of his achievements and the onus is on him to replace that feeling with a sense of ease and comfort. The last time India played a Test series in the Caribbean was back in 2011 and only four from that squad - Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay and Amit Mishra - are travelling for this four-Test series which begins on July 21 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Kumble in his prime was a tormentor of West Indies. As coach, he will try to inspire his players to follow suit.

The camp will also see Kohli reunite with his former Royal Challengers mentor. It will be interesting to see the coming together of the flamboyant and aggressive Kohli and the genial spin ace, who for all his aggression, seldom wore his emotions on his sleeve. What Kumble has been handed is a bunch of players with talent in abundance. Positivity is their USP.

The next week will go a long way in setting the tone for a hectic season ahead.