A truly Jumbo sized Career. Review on Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble is nicknamed as “Jumbo “ maybe something to with his height and big build. On March 11,2006 he lived up to his nickname when he trapped Steve Harmison lbw and became the first Indian and only the 5th bowler after Shane Warne, Muthaiah Muralitharan, Courtney Walsh and Glenn Mc Grath to enter a very elite club of bowlers who have taken more than 500 wickets in Test Matches. But for me “Jumbo” symbolizes more than just wickets taken and dry statistics. It also symbolizes something more, a thing called as attitude or what some people call as character.

Anil has had all sorts of criticism directed at him, the lack of variety in his bowling, his not too impressive overseas record and his failure to take wickets on flat pitches. But not even his worst critic can accuse him of lack of commitment or character. True Anil is not a genius like Warne or Murali, he can be belted around on flat tracks as we saw in Pakistan recently, his bowling is more often predictable. But his greatness lies in the fact that he never believed himself to be Superman and always played within his limitations. In an Indian team which has seen the likes of stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and now MS Dhoni, Anil never got his due, and was always in the shadow of these players. But I think the time has now come for every Indian to give this man his due, and recognize his greatness. We would be doing ourselves a great disservice if we fail to do so.

I would like to remind every Indian cricket fan about the Test match vs India at Antigua, WI,2002. His jaw was fractured by a Mervyn Dillon bouncer, and he was advised to keep out from the match. But ignoring everything , he came out with his head wrathed in bandage, and bowled for 14 overs on the trot. And whats more he also took the wicket of Brian Lara. That for me was heroism at it’s best, true grit in face of adversity. For me real heroes are not the flamboyant show boys, but the ones who fight back against all odds. What Anil did on Antigua, could be compared to Lance Armstrong’s coming back and winning the Tour De France after undergoing chemotherapy. Malcolm Marshall walking out on to the field against England in 1984 his hand wrapped in a bandage, and giving support to his captain. Greg Louganis hitting his head on the diving board, under going an operation, coming back to win two back to back diving medals in 1988 Olympic Games.

But the fighting against odds, is something Anil Kumble seems to have mastered. He had to face every thing – criticism, lay offs, injuries and lean spells. Many a time his obituary was written by self knowledgable cricket pundits many of whom couldn’t even hold a bat properly. Every time I heard it Anil Kumble is over and every time we saw him coming back. They said he was not good on over seas tours. Then how come he picked up 24 wickets in 3 matches against Australia in 2003-04 series. They say he lacked variety. Well I want all those critics to please watch the second match vs England at Mohali, where all his wickets were due to different type of deliveries. To those who decry his lack of talent, I ask one thing, did he pick up 500 wickets just like that without any talent. Yes L. Sivaramakrishnan and Narendra Hirwani were more talented than him, but why did they fizzle out soon>?

That’s because Anil Kumble is one of those rare Indian cricketers who never believed he was God. In a team of prima donnas, he was one of the few genuine team mean. Rarely would you see him sulking, and cribbing because the wickets were not to his liking. He could if he had wanted asked only for helpful tracks, avoided overseas tours, or avoided playing on not so helpful tracks, to inflate his figures. That he did not and still managed to bag 500 wickets, indicates that we have not given this Lion Hearted cricketer his due. I often heard people cribbing that some players get all chances, while others don’t get much chances. Then how does one explain this. Due to shoulder injury he had to sit out the 2001 series against Australia, and Harbhajan Singh emerged as the latest star on the Indian spin bowling segment. From 2001-03, most of the time he had to cool his heels in the dressing room, whenever it was decided to drop a spinner, while Bhajji was out there in the middle. Lesser players might have sulked , Kumble could have as well announced his retirement, he had already contributed enough by then. Instead he stuck it out manfully, and he came back with a bang against Australia in 2003-04 bagging 24 wickets in 3 Tests. And most importantly, he answered all those who said he couldn’t take wickets abroad. What about the time when Anil had to sit out for most of the 2003 World Cup, when he played a role in some of India’s major ODI triumphs?

Yes he has his weaknesses, and yes he has had his lean patches. But that is something every one of us have, we are not God. To all those carping critics, I just want to ask one thing “Are you guys perfect?”. And above all Kumble is one of the finest persons you would ever meet in real. Not too prone to blowing his own trumpet, modest and a true gentleman to the core. Kumble has proved that even good guys can win, and to be ruthless, you need not indulge in nasty gamesman ship. Above all a man who was conscious of his limitations, yet did his best within such limitations. A man who had the motto “Never say die” inscribed on his heart. A man who selflessly gave his best for every match he played. And above all a competitor to the core. Some one who hated to see catches being spilled off his bowling, or edges going waste. Such a person is a true role model for every Indian.

One question is being asked. Will Jumbo make it back to the World Cup squad for 2007. Well much as I would love him, my guess is sadly not. He is certainly not the best of fielders, and that is very critical in ODI matches. He could spring a surprise or two with his bowling, but I guess Anil’s ODI career is over for now, which is quite sad. But then some things have to come to end. All said and done, congrats Anil for your 500 wickets. It’s been truly a Jumbo Sized effort from you. I shall remember you for the wonderful winning moments you have provided us. I shall always remember you for that perfect 10 at the Kotla in 1999 against Pakistan. But most of all I would always remember the image of you, your head wrapped in bandages, coming out to bowl 14 overs on the trot against West Indies in 2002, and getting a wicket. That in itself makes me salute you. Like a true soldier of India, you have gone on, uncomplainingly, taken every blow like a man, and today you stand like a colossus.