After a long time, I get a chance to key in some words in the open paper of the internet called blog. I always say I am in perpetual writer’s block, but then today is anything but that. Then again it is not often that a ‘Giant’ decides to walk away from a grand stage that it has been a part of, for better period of nearly 2 decades. It is not everyday that Anil Kumble calls it quits……………….
The period of our life that most of my generation have been dreading for, has come indeed. First Ganguly now Kumble. While one takes the fight to the opposition in absolute brazenness, the other stoically fights but rarely makes a noise. Each one has employed their style to great effect and each have left their mark on the game and India in particular. While adjectives describing both would fall woefully inadequate, they are as different from Chalk and cheese. But more about ‘Dada’ later, this one is about the man, who for being as tall as he is, is almost unnoticeable for his quiet demeanor and humility bordering on apologetic. There is something very gentlemanly about Kumble, which is probably why he is highly respected by his peers and opposition alike.
The articles, news reels, quotes from cricketing great are plush with glorious adjectives. But when you read then you can truly feel, not a single one is over the top. With Kumble, these words are anything but that!!
Truth be told, there has never been a more under rated (and in some cases by the media, under appreciated) cricketer to walk this planet. The do not call “The Smiling Assassin” for no reason. You might not realize the impact of Kumble until you glance up the scoreboard and notice that he probably snagged 3 or 4 wickets of total 5 to fall (the lone exception to this would probably be the historic Kotla test of 1999). Pretty much the story of his entire career though. While all the attention has been on Muralitharan and Warne in the grand total wickets race, ‘Jumbo’ silently flew under the radar and grabbed 619. If people has not realized, that’s the third highest number of wickets. Much of 90s cricket was synonymous with the way India were such a dominant force at home. He was not a typical spinner and was often ridiculed by the members of press associated. But such is the cricket acumen of this engineer that his bowling consisted of constant adjustments and correction, all the while, wearing down the opponent, without giving an inch. Much of the reason, Harbhajan Singh flourished after the 2001 Aussie test series was because of Kumble. With no respite at either end when these two operated in tandem meant that the chokehold was forced to be broken, often an attempt that brought about the downfall.
As our parents (the previous generation) were reminiscing the glorious days of ‘the Spin Quartet” with a misty eye and yonder a gaze and fond memories, Kumble was toiling in front of our eyes, to ultimately provide us with the same memories, that we would eventually be able recall when we sit down and lean back and gaze past the sunset.
As much as these cricketing master’s days come to close, it brings to close the cricketing days of our generation too. Most of has have been brought up with the image of the ‘Fab Five’ (it’s a blasphemy, that they always choose to leave out Kumble when mentioning the pillars of our Indian cricket, that has fought for glory for a population of billion, that has little to cheer about in terms of sporting achievements), walking together of onto the battleground. Now two of them have decided to hoist up the sails and drift into ocean, leaving behind nothing but some of the best memories of the Indian cricket through the 90s and this side of millennium, when we close our eyes and let the reel run through our mind.
A very minor, and much humble effort to pay the tribute to the best possible, for the man, we have always taken for granted, for the man, who always had Team India first in his mind, for a man we have to trod along forward, as he hangs his boots and bide us goodbye and tells his best wishes are always with us (and you can most certainly believe he truly does wish the best). It is hard not to get misty-eyed when we think, that you would not be bounding in from your run-up to deliver the ball in your unique way. For those of us who were lucky to witness this, we would never forget it.
Jumbo……. We will miss you, and we wish you the very best!!!!
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