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.
