India Australia Series

Kumble lashes out at media rumours

India’s cricket captain Anil Kumble on Thursday lashed out at the media for their speculation about an ‘honourable exit’ being worked out for the seniors and said such “rubbish” reports are bound to hurt the players.

Kumble bluntly told the media to be a bit more respectful to the senior cricketers and made it clear that Sourav Ganguly’s inclusion in the 15-member squad was not part of any compromise formula.

“You need to be a bit more respectful. When people discuss cricketers, they need to be handled respectfully,” an angry Kumble told reporters. If scrutiny is done in a respectable fashion, we don’t mind scrutiny. But, when it’s done rubbishly and the way it’s been quoted, then it hurts,” he said.

Kumble also slammed the media for speculating over Ganguly’s inclusion for the first two Tests against Australia.

“He was part of the last Test match as well. He is part of this series also. No difference. I don’t see any change. Media reports say a lot of things. I can’t really divulge what happened in the selection committee meeting,” he added.

Tags: anil kumble, Australia, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India, sourav ganguly