It was very late in the night -- about 2:30 am. I was chatting with my friend and had decided to call it a day and push off for sleep. Being the true Indian, I thought of having a look at the score and then retire into my sleeping bag after a pretty uneven and rough day. Laxman and dada were at the crease and were playing well. And then, suddenly, out of nowhere came this breaking news ---
I read and re-read the lines several times... It took a few moments to sink in.. About 13000 kms away, on precisely the opposite side of the globe - The legend and the greatest match winner for India - Anil Kumble, had decided to call it a day!!
The next few minutes went in searching the net to get a sneak preview of live feed of the telecast. But unfortunately, that was not to be...
The first thing I spoke after getting up in the morning was breaking this news to my room-mate. We both sat together and then, the inevitable mourning started.... Its now about 6 hrs and 19 mins since I got up and started mourning... For a man who has bagged 619 test wickets and nearly half of that (311) in ODIs, this was the only way we could pay our tribute too.. Thats when I decided to put my thoughts in here...
There have been many heroes in Indian cricket. I started following cricket from the time when the nation was hit by the franzy of an emerging (if not already a legend) teenager -- the Sachin mania. Each and every citizen in the country was dazzled by this youngster and truly so. He was a master in the making, and was proving it all over the world. Then emerged two gems on an England tour -- Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
However, there was one man who was constantly performing and winning matches for India and was a fighter - yet, going all the way unnoticed. Unnoticed? well not really... India would seldom win matches abroad and all the scrutiny was on the bowlers not being able to delilver. Media and the selectors found a very favourite person to easily pin-point -- Anil Kumble - the once bespectacled, lean and tall teenager who couldnt turn the ball and yet call himself a leg spinner. Not many realized that the prized and celebrated batting line-up seldom put up scores on the board too. If the batsmen find it difficult to bat in alien conditions why shouldnt the bowlers feel the same? It was incredible how the whole nation missed this point, but yet, the sheer determination and constant desire to compete never bothered the legend - Kumble.
It made me wonder so many times what made the media go after Kumble as easily as they did. Well, it wasnt all that difficult to realize that he had been a prolific contributor to Indian victories at home. He was the lethal weapon which Mohd. Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar had utilized to bowl out oppositions. He was India's trump card and the captain always believed that. The opponents never underestimated him too. He was one of the most feared in the Indian team. So, it could be due to a combination of lack of foreign victories and the lack of prolificacy of this performer that he was a constant target of criticism. But true to his nature, he did performace do the talking for him.
I remember the days (1996 World cup time) when the opening batsmen started slogging in the first 15 overs and inevitably, the captain would beckon Kumble to bowl. This was a new challenge and Kumble responed with the way he was used to - by delivering. He had the dual job of containing the batsmen (to reduce the scoring rate) as well as pick up wickets (as he was the strike bowler). For years to come, he shouldered the responsibility with ease and delivered. How often have we seen captain use one main fast bowler - Srinath - and any other bowler just to take off the shine of the new ball, so that Kumble could be asked to bowl as soon as possible. This has been the story since a long time.
A few of the moments which puts Kumble above the rest:
(a) Built a partnership with Srinath to win a ODI for India at Bangalore. Not only did he remain calm and played responsibly, he also had to steady and calm the adrenalin pumped Srinath.. How can we forget their mothers cheering their sons from the stands... The memory brings a smile... :)
(b) Of course, the Firoz Shah Kotla.... 10 wickets in an innings... only the second player to have done it ever... no need to say anything else, I suppose..
(c) Gets loads of praises for that achievement including renaming the MG Road's Oriental Circle as the "Anil Kumble Circle".
(d) Probably the greatest display of the intense fighting spirit and putting team and cricket before anything else came in 2002 in the tour of West Indies.. Having fractured his jaw due to a bouncer from Mervyn Dillon, Kumble comes back on the field, heavily strapped, and bowls 14 overs of guile, guts and determination and claims Lara's wicket. To me, that put Kumble on the pinnacle of sporting heroes.
(e) Breaks Kapil's record and pushes onto a tally of 619 test wickets and ends up the highest wicket taker for India in both forms of cricket.
(f) Scores a century against England and fulfils his long cherished dream.
(g) In his final match, comes on to the field and bowls 40 odd overs in the first innings with 11 stitches on his left hand and claims 3 wickets...
A few regrets:
(a) He did not get a hat-trick, although he came close to it on so many occassions.
(b) He did not end up a world cup winner which he rightly deserved.
Kumble - the legend will be missed. But I am happy that songs are now being heard of the unsung hero. He did get a fitting adeau and it is heartening to see people stand up and recognize him for what he has done for Indian cricket.
10 comments:
Just want to add one more incident which most of us now might have forgotten.
Kumble's 6/14 against the Windies in Hero Cup. Windies just could not pick Kumble at all. This remains as the best Indian bowling figures in an ODI.
I remember one more personal incident with Kumble. We were probably in 6-7th standard. We had gone for a Painting competition in Cubbon Park. We 4-5 school kids went into the Chinnasawamy stadium after the competition. There comes Kumble out from the Pavilion returning home after a practice session. Next day was a game against Goa. We took autographs. He told "Ivattu bandidira naaLe bandu match nodbeku", guess it was me "NaaLe school iratte barakke agalla" and Kumble replied "Odi odi, studies first" then went on to give us autographs. Well I cam home as if I had won the Painting competition and showed that autograph for weeks to whoever came home :)
sooper... :)
nija nija... he was the student first and then the maestro... :)
I have not watched the 6/12 in the hero cup final... probably did not have the cricketing knowledge still. but ya, thanks for posting that. it sure is one of the highlights of his career.
Sri ... I echo every word of your blog !
I still remember those days under Azhar when Kumble would start warming up in the 12th over without being told by Azhar that he would be bowling the 13th ! And the best part was, almost all the time, India would get a wicket in the 13th !!!
Keepers turning to helmets was one other contribution of this Giant of cricket ! :P
Although Sachin's, Saurav's, Dravid 'sand Laxman's dialogues in the drama of Test cricket were loud and musical ... Kumbles role has been most dramatic, most effective and most important, and almost always the climax has depended on his performance !
Hats Off Jumbo !
a very emotional topic for me.. these 5 guys (fab4+jumbo) have been involved with our lives like no other "outsiders" for the past 18 years..
they have helped create men from boys!
Very true!! and yea it was Omkar and I who had met him after the painting competition. Such a down to earth person. A true sportsman and a true Gentleman. Wish he wud play for some more years! Alas .. all good things have to come to an End.. Legend who will remain in our hearts forever and someone who will command respect from every Indian!
Cheers! He will always remain in my list of best cricketers for India.
Lotsa lessons to be learnt from him. First one being commitment and descipline.
Will miss a good bowler and a great cricketer!
I wanted to add another incident. I think he handled the Harbhajan-Symonds issue in Australia early this year with great dignity and yet got his point across very firmly. That really was something! I do not think any other captain or player could have been that effective without the use of loose words or rash/harsh/senseless comments.
You see people like Gambhir getting physical and elbowing other players. You see people like Harbhajan and Sreesanth spitting out abuses every other day in such a childish demeanor. In the same team there is this Man who is ever so composed, stoic, dignified, patient, responsible and has just one weapon which he has perfected so well over the years.... the leather ball!
Right now, I think there is just one word to sum up his place in the Indian side... "irreplaceable"
Hi Sridhar,
Good blog. I always think media has been too cold on this legend. He was blamed as being ineffective in foreign conditions. How many Foreign fast bowlers tasted success in sub continent? far too less. Media always chooses to miss that point and blame it on a hero like Kumble. Most people dont know what it is to bowl your heart out in helpless conditions.
In the era of over reacting cricketers, such a calm yet strong personality is very rare to see..Sledge, he seldom did, but he made the cherry do the teasing. I can imagine the great respect/fear he would have had in the dressing rooms of other teams.
I believe that the way a sportsman play the sport reflects a person's character. It takes a lot of character and self discipline to play the game so well for so long.
Kudos to the legend.
Post a Comment