Adios Kumble : A Tribute to the Gentleman Cricketer

The last day of the 3rd test match between India and Australia saw a legend of Indian cricket bowing out of the international arena after serving the country with a valour and strength comparable to a mighty soldier. Yes, I am talking about the Indian with the most number of wickets to his name, the Indian who is also the third highest wicket taker in test cricket in the world, and the Indian who is also a gem of a man! Yeah I am talking about Anil Kumble, or (as the public addresses him) Jumbo!

The sharks were circling, with the clamour for him to step aside for wicketkeeper and born leader Dhoni equalled by speculation about the condition of the 38-year-old leg spinner's body.

Kumble chose to finish on his own word, and, in doing so, allowed himself the deserved honour of a farewell bowling spell and a lap of honour at the ground where he reached a personal peak - second innings figures of 10-74 to win a Test for India against arch-rival Pakistan in 1999, one of only two instances of a bowler taking all 10.

Kumble did not shock the Delhi crowd alone, but shell-shocked a cricketing nation, just like he bamboozled batting greats throughout his career. We all knew it was coming, and soon, but it seemed to fans to come out of the blue. Why you may ask? Perhaps because there was no time to let it sink; maybe because he has been such a regular fixture in an Indian line up; perhaps because we admire him so much; perhaps because this is the end of a Golden Era in India cricket. The numbness and lumps in the throat are justified for this is no mere bowler. This is Anil Kumble. The man who took all 10 wickets in one innings; the one who took over 600 wickets in all; the one who bowled with a broken jaw; the man who never gives up; the Kumble whose statesmanlike captaincy through an acrimonious tour of Australia made him the best ambassador of the gentleman’s game; the Kumble who bowled with a stitched up finger and the Kumble who took his last international wicket from a return catch with an injured hand.

Kumble decided to quit after sustaining an injury to his hand during the 3rd day of the 3rd test match, although he had already made his mind up to quit after the end of the series. The end of the match though quite uninteresting witnessed a heart warming farewell to the Jumbo of Indian cricket. All the players lifted him up on their shoulders and gave him a lap of honour around the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in New Delhi ( where he claimed 10-74 in an innings against Pak).

Kumble, the cricketer, has been special to me in many ways. Aside of inspiring me to experiment spin bowling with a tomato, he’s done much inspire any average Joe that with hard work, one can scale great heights as Anil Kumble’s career is a tribute to this. As a bespectacled young man who took the field, he did not take the cricketing world by storm. He did not spike to success either. Kumble’s career progress has been almost boringly gradual, one nurtured by sweat, blood, toil, unrelenting hard work, a craftsman’s talent and soldier’s spirit. Yet underneath it all, there is a good human being, a man who managed the impossible task of staying clear of controversy in a cricketing nation that thrives on and devours it with voracious appetite. His manner was distinctly south Indian: low-key, polite, and humble. His success is testament to the fact that one does not need showmanship or bravado to reach great heights. All that is required is a committed soul that always gave a hundred percent to the task at hand. Success will automatically follow.

Kumble made his debut against England at Old Trafford in 1990, but rose to prominence in 1992 and 1993 through a string of performances that emphasised his tremendous accuracy and ability to make the ball spit vengefully from a helpful surface.

Never a spinner in the classical sense, Kumble instead relied on persistence, changes of pace and subtle variations delivered at near slow medium pace. Opponents commonly remarked the safest way to play Kumble at his peak was to treat him as something of a slow inswing bowler, with the odd delivery breaking away from the bat.

Intelligent but always a fighter, Kumble played a key role in shaping a far more streetwise and aggressive Indian team than the one he entered 18 years ago. The mantle of the captaincy thus passed on to M.S.Dhoni, who now has become the overall captain of the Indian cricket team!

As he left the ground he raised his cap to the crowd of Delhi and all those who were watching!

I salute that mighty warrior of India with all my heart!