Diana Edulji, one of the members of Committee of Administrators (CoA) stirred up a hornet's nest, on Monday, in her continuing difference of opinion with CoA chief over the whole issue of Women’s team coach (Ramesh Powar-Harmanpreet Kaur-Mithali Raj). It is interesting to note that Vinod Rai had taken strong objection to Indian Women’s T20 skipper Harmanpreet Singh shooting off e-mails to BCCI in their support of Ramesh Powar.

But Diana Edulji has now come up with an explosive revelation that Indian Men’s team skipper Virat Kohli would frequently SMS BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to express his disapproval of former coach Anil Kumble to counter Vinod Rai’s views. #MeToo in Cricket: Rahul Johri to Remain BCCI CEO, Sexual Harassment Claims Dismissed.

It is a known fact that Diana Edulji and Vinod Rai have different views on several issues that are plaguing Indian cricket. But this news trickling in does not bode well for how cricket is run in India.

Coaches have always been in the background for several successful teams of the past, but the controversy surrounding the exit of Anil Kumble was handled poorly. Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble did not see eye to from day one, and their bone of contention included team selection and pay-hike for centrally contracted crickets.

Kumble, under whose management India just lost a single test out of the seventeen it played and was moving in right direction, was pressurised to the extent that he quit. Bishen Singh Bedi Takes a Dig at Virat Kohli, Says Indian Cricket Team Captain Is 'Doing All He Wants'

The incidence shows how Virat Kohli enjoys unparallel power in Indian cricket so much so that he can get a coach sacked just by getting in touch with senior officials. The cricketer is numero uno when it comes to pure skills and performances, but it is shocking to see how a skipper can preside over the entire machinery of the board and prevail over their judgment.

To make matters worse, the COA tweaked rules to accommodate Ravi Shashti, Virat Kohli’s preferred choice for the post of coach. This did not go down well with the Cricket Advisory Committee of VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.  It also makes us think that if decisions are made in such autocratic manner then why to have these cricket bodies.

Virat Kohli undoubtedly is taking Indian Cricket forward, but the way he deals with differences of opinion has been questioned on several occasions. There was also news of him abusing Kumble in one of the team meetings which again raises questions on his autocratic style of functioning.

But the question that needed to be asked is, why is BCCI vesting so much veto power in one man that he can have his way?

While in the Harmanpreet Kaur's issue, the BCCI has clearly stated that a skipper cannot influence board officials over the selection of coach. This can only mean rules are different for different people in Indian cricket. Sunil Gavaskar Questions BCCI, 'Why Are Shikhar Dhawan & MS Dhoni Not Playing Ranji Trophy?'

We also cannot help but ponder whether Ravi Shastri is allowed to have his say in the decision making or ultimately gives into what his captain demands. Whatever is the case, autocracy is not right in any field, let alone a sport like Cricket!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 12, 2018 02:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).