ANIL KUMBLE..."India test Captain"....A title truly deserving.....
In case any of the cricket pundits or analysts or experts or for that matter any common indian man who knows a bit about cricket, is asked to name top 5 cricketers who influenced indian cricket, it would be a real disgrace if Anil Kumble does not figure in that list.India has never seen a match winner of his stature(probably will never see anybody of his determination and fighting ability).He has been a "Gentle giant" of Indian cricket, who never created any fuss about whatever was said about him or his performance, but just kept on chugging away unnoticingly with performances worth its weight in gold.After making his debut in 1990, with his spectacles on, looking at the initial stages of his career,probably nobody would have bet on him to be India's highest wicket taker in both forms of the game.Credited for his performances was Kumble in 1997 when he was made deputy to Tendulkar, and then one thought Anil could well be the next Indian skipper.
But destiny played a trick with him, as he encountered injuries and was not handled well by selectors and captains that followed Azharuddin.But not once did he make an issue or complain about it.One thing worth mentioning is that, former India skipper Mohd. Azharuddin must be applauded for the way he supported in making Anil Kumble a match winner,a fact Kumble himself has reiterated several times.
Coming to his performances,Anil's biggest thing happened when he took the "Perfect 10" against Pakistan at the Feroze Shah Kotla.Who can forget his 6-12 in the Hero cup final in 1993 against the Windies, and the 5 wicket haul at Johannesburg in 1992, at the early stage of his career.The list goes long and long.........As he progressed, critics came back at him saying that Kumble was just a match winner at home, and was a failure abroad.That was what his statistics said, but then rarely did India as a whole do well abroad!!!! So why only Kumble to be held responsible!!!!But on the 2002 English tour and the 2003-04 Australia tour he showed what Anil Kumble could do to strong batting line ups.He also won us our first test series on Pakistan soil in 2004 and in WestIndies in 2006.And when not a single indian batsman scored a century on the whole of the 2007 English tour, Anil scored a ton in the last test at Oval, his first test match hundred in his 17th year as an international cricketer.
Has anybody played on the field with a bandaged broken jaw, inspite of knowing he could aggravate it and jeopardise his career? Nobody can ever match such kind of commitment.The way he used to attack the batsmen, even in case of dead scenarios in test matches, showed his passion for the game.A true legend of the game is what he is.One can never remember any controversy linked to him. Though aggressive on the field, he is not one in the sledgers' category,nor did he get back at people who mouthed words at him.He just let his performances speak for him.And now at the twilight of his career,as captain of the Indian test team finally,he has been rewarded for his efforts,his dedication and commitment. Hats off to Anil Kumble !!!!!!
P.S: These thoughts are not exhaustive,as the blog is intended to give a short and sweet tribute to India's test captain.
