Arunkumar blames Pondicherry officials for quitting as coach

CHENNAI: Even as officials from the Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP) maintain that J Arunkumar stepped down as the team's coach due to health issues, the 45-year-old revealed an entirely different side to the whole episode.
"I am doing fine health-wise. I resigned as coach due to too much interference from some of the CAP officials," Arunkumar told TOI on Thursday evening without naming them.
The former Karnataka coach who helped the side win back-to-back domestic trebles - Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare and Irani Cup - in 2013-14 and 2014-15 took charge of the Pondicherry side last year.
Under him, the side won five out of their seven Ranji clashes. They began the season by topping the Plate group of the Vijay Hazare Trophy and subsequently made the cut for the quarterfinals. The team has 41 points from 7 games.
They are currently taking on Nagaland in their final league clash. Arunkumar revealed that he failed to get the players he wanted and the dressing room atmosphere had turned toxic.
"I never got the team I wanted and the officials would want to drop players after just one failure which wasn't right. As a coach, it was important for me to instill confidence in them. It's a lovely bunch of boys and they have the potential to do well. All they need is a good environment," added Arunkumar.
One of the Pondy players - who didn't want to be named - said the morale in the dressing room was low. "While our performances have been good this season, there is always a fear among us. We are afraid that if we don't perform in one game, the axe will fall on us. Our former coach Arunkumar did his best to boost our morale but he was neither given space nor the environment to bring the best out of us. It's sad to see him leave," said the player. CS Suresh Kumar was named the interim coach of the side.
Meanwhile, a CAP official has rubbished the allegations made by Arunkumar. "He wasn't keeping well during the course of the Ranji season and had to quit because of health issues," said the official.