Former India captain, Anil Kumble is all set to be a part of Indian cricket team. But, Kumble won’t be helping the struggling Indian spinners, instead, he will play a mentor to the entire team on how to handle fame, money, distractions and even conduct in public.

By Sai Prasad Mohapatra

Former India captain and spin legend, Kumble, in association with a leading university, has developed a curriculum called “LIFE SKILLS PROGAM”, through which he intends to train some three thousand five hundred cricketers.

SportsCenter has also learned from sources that Kumble has got a go ahead to work with Men in Blue.

Speaking exclusively to SportsCenter, India’s young hero, Virat Kohli confirmed that this training will help budding cricketers like himself.
 
“I lost focus after the first IPL with all the money and fame coming in. Then, I told myself to forget everything and concentrate on cricket and the rest will take care of itself,” Virat said with optimism.

The summary of the program suggests, Kumble will be touching upon various issues in this curriculum which is expected to cost the BCCI 2.9 lakh rupees per player.

To handle instant recognition by the Indian media is one of the first points that Kumble wants to stress upon.

The course will also talk about the players’ conduct in public, inter-player rivalry with the bigger picture of team bonding and grooming them into well-rounded human beings.
 
“This course will help players to just concentrate on cricket, and keep all the masala stuff around at bay. It is important that players are managed well, and this is how it can happen,” former Mumbai batsman Amol Muzumdar told SportsCenter.

Kumble’s program also intends to make the players self-sufficient. To ensure that individual player managers do not take the player for a ride, the course will touch upon the topics of self-finance management.
 
It could be a good beginning for players, if they can comprehend the nuances of Kumble's course. But they also have a live example of an institution that has managed to stay away all distractions and focus on the game. The institution is - Sachin Tendulkar, who is all set to become the most capped Test player of the world when India take on Sri Lanka at Colombo on Tuesday.

This is one achievement youngsters would love to set as a benchmark.

(Sai Prasad Mohapatra works for ESPN's SportsCenter)

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