Anil Radhakrishna Kumble, a towering frame of Kannadiga decency and dignity, and Australian discipline, determination and dedication, not to speak of towering achievements, has bid goodbye from Test match cricket, leaving a sudden and gaping hole in Indian cricket.
“Jumbo”, as the Bangalore legspinner was christened by Navjot Singh Sidhu because his deliveries “took off” like a jet plane, grounded his aircraft on his favourite 22-yard runway in the nation’s capital, the Ferozshah Kotla where, 10 years ago, he had become only the second man in the game’s history to bag all 10 wickets in an innings.
Called for chucking as a young fast bowler (as a result of which his brother Dinesh Kumble egged him on to become a spin bowler), and decried by anybody who could hold a ball as a spinner who could not turn it, Kumble ended up with 619 Test match wickets, and excelled in both formats of the game over an 18-year career, showing that the first and most important battle in cricket is between the ears.
As Rahul Dravid wrote in a Cricinfo tribute three years ago:
“He has a degree in engineering and a PhD in legspin bowling.”
Competitive in a way no other Indian, barring maybe Sachin Tendulkar has been, for so long, Kumble brought grit and steel to a mercurial side that thought talent was all. Fittingly, on the day prior to his retirement, he returned from hospital with 11 stitches on his small finger in the left hand to bowl at the Australians, and even took a fine return catch in the process.
For many cricket fans, an earlier sight of Kumble with his head wrapped in bandage, bowling to Brian Lara in a Test match against the West Indies, ranks among the most heart-warming sights of his commitment.
Ironically, though, as befits a batsmen’s game perhaps, all through the India-Australia series, the talk had been on the future of the “Fab Four”—Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and V.V.S. Laxman. But cricket is, if nothing else, a game of glorious uncertainties, and it was Anil Kumble who exited first.
On CNN-IBN, Erapalli Prasanna, the legendary offspinner, described Kumble as a classic role model for generations of bowlers of what line and length can accomplish. And Javagal Srinath, Kumble’s longtime teammate and friend, said he would place him above Kapil Dev for his match-winning feats.
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ANIL KUMBLE, PREVIOUSLY ON CHURUMURI.COM
‘The secret of Anil Kumble’s success is his un-Kannadiganess’
Head to toe, the essence of a good Kannadiga
What Sania Mirza needs to learn from Anil Kumble
The silent steel of Anil Kumble is the real Man of the Match
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Video (top): courtesy Neo Cricket, Anil Kumble talking to Ravi Shastri at the presentation ceremony at the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds in Delhi, on Sunday, 2 Novemeber 2008
Video (below): courtesy NDTV 24×7, Kumble announcing his retirement from one-day cricket
Tags: Anil Kumble, Brian Lara, Dinesh Kumble, Erapalli Prasanna, Javagal Srinath, Kapil Dev, Navjot Sidhu
2 November 2008 at 4:39 pm
Truly India’s GREATEST EVER player has hung up his boots.
Lets have a tribute function asap at Anil Kumble Circle for this great son of K’Taka.
2 November 2008 at 5:02 pm
One of the India’s greatest match winners.
There will be another great wall? probably yes.
There will be another god of off side? probably yes.
There will be another very very special player? probably yes.
There will be another Sachin? probably not.
There will be another Anil Kumble? Definitely not.
Top 4 moments that I can recollect:
1. Hero cup performance 6/12.
2. 10 wicket haul at Kotla against Porkis.
3. Kumble bowling with bandage on his face.
4. After being dropped from first test at Brisbane in 2003, the way he came back in the next 3 tests to become the highest wicket taker for India in the series was simply superb!
PS: Thanks Anil! You retired and saved us from reading another Hindu bashing post on Churumuri..at least today :)
2 November 2008 at 5:09 pm
A gentleman cricketeer, never losing hope, played again all odds and still kept a smiling face. Contributed his mite to the Indian cricket. Let the Indian Cricket Board make use of his vast experience. Prasanna, Chandrashekhar, Javagal Srinath…..yes, all of them should be remembered forever.
2 November 2008 at 8:41 pm
@Hiker
Agree with every thing except to put ‘the wall’ and ‘Sachin’ together, I know that is always a never ending discussion when the ‘little old’ master is involved….:) Just to prove ones’ greatness we need not under estimate others’ achievements. Sorry if I am harsh.
Can anyone tell me how many commercials has Kumble appeared in? Not that endorsing products is bad, But the fact that Kumble appears only in a few if not zero ads in spite of his achievements increases my respect for him as a person.
2 November 2008 at 9:38 pm
@sathya
“..contributed his mite” ? .. tigaNe contribute maaDidra Kumble.. That’s news to all of us here. Oh, probably you meant “MIGHT”.
2 November 2008 at 10:06 pm
Insult to Kumble! Times Now asking Prasad Biddappa, the drug addict, for his comments on Anil Kumble.
3 November 2008 at 12:16 am
we are really proud of you jumbo. my god bless you with happiness and satisfaction in the future.
3 November 2008 at 10:34 am
our cricket board is a total joke.
3 November 2008 at 10:48 am
ಭಾರತದ ರತ್ನ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ ಅನಿಲ್ ಕುಂಬ್ಳೆ
For the benefit of non-kannadigas….
India’s Gem, Karnataka’s Pride Anil Kumble
3 November 2008 at 11:48 am
I saw him bowling at the S A Srinivasan memorial tournament in 1988.
I followed him to a Ranji match at Madgoan a year later. I saw him playing his last match. I have followed our great Kumble from beginning to end.
3 November 2008 at 12:15 pm
The winner of ‘the most arrogant cricketer ever award’ . He is full of hot air and though he learnt English in Holy Saint English School where there was not a single good English teacher who could have taught him English in a totally Kannada environment, he always avoids speaking Kannada and speaks English like he was born in the by lanes of London. Suffering from an inferiority complex in his whole cricketing career he had his fat nose up in the air. Look at the way how his ’swajathi bandhus’ have never missed an opportunity to extol his absent virtues!!!
3 November 2008 at 12:42 pm
Sania Mirza needs to learn many things from Anil Kumble.
: First she should learn to play and concentrate on the game.
I think she is less play and more fashion.
3 November 2008 at 12:44 pm
Prasad Bidappa is a ‘Junky’. I do think it is a insult to ask his comments on Anil kumble.
3 November 2008 at 1:04 pm
It’s ironic that there is no blog on Churumuri about Kannada on the Rajyothsava day or the month and especially after Kannada being given the classical status. I think the success of the status awarded should have been applauded.
3 November 2008 at 2:19 pm
@ Vasudev
right
there is no blog on Rajyothsava.
3 November 2008 at 2:51 pm
I wish Kumble had received this kind of adulation from the public earlier. No one deserved it more than him. But then we are a country that prefers flamboyance over perseverance. You can read my tribute at http://www.rameshsrivats.net
3 November 2008 at 6:06 pm
Anil Kumble epitomised the eternal values of Karnataka-he was modest,self-effacing,a team player,disciplined,relentlessy accurate,hard working,a proud and determined indian,persevering.He won more matches for india than anyone else.No one can step into your shoes.
His unique style on wearing tracks with balls skidding and bouncing won us so many matches.He was an unsung hero.A nation addicted to flat track bullies could never appreciate his real worth.
Both kumble and rahul dravid stand for solid technique and courage.Unfortunately many bongs and the vacuous dork media hated them for this solidness and basic technique.
Kumble,you will always be remembered as one of the makers of a resurgent india.
Hiker,you have captured what is in the hearts of so many.Thank you.You are dead right about churumuri.They dont give a damn about the announcement of classical language status for kannada.
3 November 2008 at 6:17 pm
Hiker,
While no one can deny sourav’s contribution to india ( let alone indian cricket,in terms of leadership),in cricketing terms he is not at par with the likes of VVS,Rahul,kumble.
I think we will have to wait for a long time to see another rahul.He is the best after sunny and sachin.Perhaps the next best bet is Rohit Sharma.
3 November 2008 at 6:31 pm
Kumble was so different from the earlier greats like prasanna, chandra,vishy.When one thinks of Prasannas flight,Chandras googlies and Vishy’s square cuts they bring back memories of a more innocent and romantic era.Their cricket captured the beauty of mysore or malnad.Kumble was more like the of modern bengalooru.But that is what kannadigas need now-grit and steel against players who like to bend rules and bully others.
3 November 2008 at 8:50 pm
KL,
Rohit Sharma is talented and he will grow as a 50-50 and 20-20 player. But I have some doubts when it comes to the classic version of the game. He should be tested first against Bangladesh.
As far as namma Uttappa is concerned, he is becoming another showman like Yuvraj Singh. He will be limited to 20-20 “kolTe” shots and 50-50.
3 November 2008 at 10:47 pm
Chandra is the only player who played : A league match for City Cricketers because the main player was absent, became a regular, played State B, Ranji, Duleep, Presidents XI against England, Test Debut at Barabourne, World XI under the captaincy of Sobers – ALL IN ONE SEASON! Since he missed his class exam of BSC Ist year, DR. H.N. the principal refused to promote him. the then KSCA President Chinnaswamy visited National College and pleaded with him to propmote him as Chandra was doing National duty for National College! HN agreed and promoted him to second year.Couple of others who had failed also benefited due to this gesture!
Kumble’s cricketing career is one of blood, sweat and Tears , all in ample measure tempered with grit and determination and never-say die- attitude. He replied Kapil Dev not in words but in kind.
Kumble’s Granfather was K. Nanjundiah a gentle desciplinarian and Head master of National High school. KN would give a couple of ‘canes’ on the palm for erring students but was very helpful to poorer students.
4 November 2008 at 7:40 am
FOCUS. We’re talking about Anil Kumble not Prasad Bidappa!
5 November 2008 at 12:20 pm
Kumble had to retire guys. He is 38 years old and one cannot play on forever. He should have retired a few years earlier as this would have a given the 20 year old potential spinners some years of exposure. But this old horse and the policies of the selection board have snatched oppurtunity from a whole generation of spinners. Indian board should stipiulate 35 years as the retirement age. The cloc should start ticking after a cricteris 30 years. We need the youths to represent the country not cult figures.
PS – Anil Kumble did not do so many advertisements because he did nothave the chocolate boy looks. Not because he did not want to do. He would have done all the things if he had got enough offers. Cricketers love big bucks. Kumble took 2 Lakh rupees to inagurate a shop in Jaynagar. Get it.