The team is only as good as its captain: Kumble

'Ultimately, it's the captain who decides'

'In the end it’s his responsibility'

Former India captain Anil Kumble made light of the cliche 'it’s a team decision', saying decision-making always lies with the captain.

"Ultimately, it's the captain who decides. He might take advice of a player or might lean towards one or two. In the end it’s his responsibility," said Kumble while delivering the seventh Dilip Sardesai Memorial lecture at the Cricket Club of India, in Mumbai, on Saturday.

"The two cliches in the game are untrue and unnecessary. First, it was a team decision. There is no thing... there is a team suggestion, even a team proposal, but it’s always a captain's decision," he added.

To prove his point, Kumble, who led India in Tests, gave the example of Saurav Ganguly's decision to bat first in the India versus England Test in Headingly in 2002, which India eventually won.

"The second cliche is captain is only as good as a team. I feel the reverse is true; the team is only as good as its captain. Very good teams have been undone by mediocre captaincy, but a good example of the latter is the current New Zealand team, led by Brendon McCullum," the 44-year-old said.

On the issue of different captains for different formats of the game, Kumble said he does not see it as an issue.