The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Cricket will not be the same without Kumble

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Cricket will not be the same without Kumble

Vijay Lokapally

Not many achieve their dreams. Anil Kumble did! He played the game he loved so dearly with such distinction and dignity that his teammates will now dread the thought of taking the field without him.

Kumble gave the concept of winning in a team sport a new meaning. He won difficult contests almost single-handedly.

At a time when crass commercialisation has changed the character of the game, Kumble played the sport the way it should be. He struck a chord with both the purists as well as the traditionalists.

The number of balls he has delivered is indeed mind-blowing — 40850 in Tests and 14496 in ODIs. If he ended up with a shoulder injury, it was inevitable. That Kumble was unflinching is well known too.

However, few have shared the pain — physical and mental — of the champion. He has often suffered in silence: bowling his heart out and spending the evening quietly in his room, his shoulder strapped in ice.

Regular visits to physio

His visits to the physio’s room increased in recent times. So did the resolve to pursue his dreams. umble was ever willing to assume responsibilities thrust upon him.

He was often summoned to bowl even when a limited-overs game was merely 10 overs old. Yet, he played just three matches in the 2003 World Cup and only one in the 2007 edition. But, true to his character, Kumble did not complain.

Kumble was one of the rare bowlers who could perform on any surface and excel in different playing conditions. n Kumble the team had a soldier who could win any battle. The leg-spinner was a bowler for all seasons.

He joked the other day about the number of times he has had to visit the Match Referees in the last 10 months in order to defend his players.

The Match Referees were, otherwise, not known to call for this cricketer who put great importance to his behaviour. Throughout his career, Kumble remained an epitome of discipline and determination.

Kumble (38) had made up his mind to retire after the series. However, injury put paid to his plans. Though he had not chosen his favourite venue — Ferozeshah Kotla — to be the stage for his final act, destiny ensured it. “The dressing room will not be the same without Anil,” confessed close friend V.V.S. Laxman. Cricket would not be the same either.

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