He conquers who endures.
~Persius
Since there was no contribution from anyone else today, I thought I would write briefly on the book that I am reading right now – Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish. But I guess that will come another day, as there is a piece of news that has inspired me write on something else.
Anil Kumble announced his retirement from all forms of cricket a few hours back (though we may just see him in the IPL). His retirement has come as a bit of surprise to me, as I thought he would play the England series as well. But the injury happened at the wrong time (or may be right), and he perhaps could not see himself nursing an injury and coming back at the age of 38.
I am very proud of Anil Kumble. He has been more than a cricketer. I vividly remember him saying once during an interview: “What hurts me most after playing almost 20 years cricket is when people still say that I cannot turn the ball.” Understandably, because he has finished his career with 619 wickets, after Warne and Muralitharan, and the highest Indian wicket-raker.
Apart from his cricketing achievements, Kumble has been a very humble and inspiring cricketer. Who can forget him bowling in the West Indies with a bandaged jaw, and famously taking the wicket of Brian Lara clean bowled. Even in his last Test match, he was playing with eleven stitches on his left hand. There is no doubt that he always gave his 100% to the game.
Kumble, although could only captain India for a very brief period, will always remain as one of the greatest ambassadors of the game of cricket. During the Sydney controversy last year, he handled the situation with utmost grace. He practiced self-restraint and very honestly said, “There was only one team that played in the spirit of the game.” He did not make a mole hill out of a mountain.
Kumble has been the most sincere cricketer of my generation, who survived wicketless spells and criticism from all quarters, and still turned the matches around. His ten-wicket spell in an innings at Feroz Shah Kotla against Pakistan will always be remembered as one of the most significant and unbelievable achievements in the history of 150-year-old game.
A man, who at the age of 38, was as committed and youthful as any young debutant, is an epitome of perseverance and tenacity. He was accused of being a tiger at home, and being a passenger in series abroad. Kumble silenced his critics on the Australia tour of 2003 by performing consistently on that tour, and taking seven wickets in the crucial Sydney Test, which was also Steve Waugh’s last match. On the England Tour of 1996, he took his first wicked in the Second Test and that too of a tailender. But he always had the elasticity to bounce back and keep nagging the batsmen with his accurate bowling. Few pseudo-intellectuals realize that even when not taking wickets, Kumble played the role of keeping one end tight – trait of a complete team person.
Kumble finishes his career today, totally unscathed. Perhaps, may be the only cricketer to have played over 100 Tests and never been penalized or punished for any kind of misconduct. A gentleman and disciplinarian to the core!
Kumble was the cricketer who would bowl with same vigor and accuracy, not matter it was the first ball or the last of the day. A few would remember him for his Test hundred and 88 that he scored against South Africa with Azharuddin when India was in a hole in a Test.
Anil Kumble today stands as an idol for millions of cricket enthusiasts all over the country, and if I dare say, globally. I hope he continues contributing to the game and country, by being a coach or a motivational guru! I can imagine him being a good speaker and perhaps a bureaucrat!
A truly inspirational personality!
