As Sunday dawns, a tall man with a huge legacy will sip his coffee and perhaps indulge in nostalgia at his lovely home here in Banashankari. August 9 marks the 25th anniversary of Anil Kumble’s Test debut.
On that day in 1990, one of India’s greatest match-winners, strode out to play against England at Manchester’s Old Trafford.
“It was one of the biggest moments in my life but I was also aware about the challenge — to get wickets and win matches for India,” Kumble recalls.
Allan Lamb became the first of his 619 wickets — currently the highest by an Indian and third in the international list.
“The ball bounced, hit the top of Lamb’s bat and Sanjay (Manjrekar) took a brilliant catch at silly-point,” Kumble says.
Bonding with TendulkarThe former India captain remembers that drawn match fondly for another reason — his friend Sachin Tendulkar’s maiden Test hundred (119 n.o.): “Kiran More, other players and I just stood on the balcony right through Sachin’s innings while he and Manoj Prabhakar saved the game. For a 17-year-old to play a knock like that was incredible.”
Kumble elaborates on his bond with Tendulkar: “Sachin was part of almost all my Tests (132). It is probably a rare Test that we missed playing together. He was my go-to man for various inputs — is the ball coming out nicely from my hand, is my run-up okay?”
Back then at 19, Kumble was still a student. “I was doing my engineering and when they picked me for the one-dayers in Sharjah, I did not even have a passport!
I was on fast-forward mode, I played the Wills Trophy and got picked for Sharjah and then for England. The good thing those days was that there were a lot of first-class games. On that England tour, we had 11 tour games and as a young player, you are busy,” Kumble says and adds: “During your early years, it is important to have the backing of your captain and Azhar (Mohammad Azharuddin) supported me.”
Highs and lowsHis personal highs are the obvious ones. Nothing can beat the ‘Perfect Ten’ (10 for 74) against Pakistan at Delhi in 1999 and there is an emotional connect while remembering the way he, despite a broken jaw, bowled at the Antigua Test and dismissed Brian Lara.
While Kumble is proud of his individual triumphs and feels privileged to have led India, he finds greater joy from team success: “In 1993, we beat England in India and after that for many years we defeated all teams that visited home. I can never forget Headingley, 2002, when we defeated England and that was the beginning of our good run overseas.
“We later defeated Pakistan, England and West Indies on their home-turf and drew a series in Australia (1-1, 2003).”
What about his maiden Test ton (110 n.o.) at The Oval in 2007? “That was great (laughs). I always believed that I could score a Test hundred and even thought the same during my debut. Unfortunately I flicked the ball straight to John Morris at short-leg and he threw down the stumps and I was run out!”
The lows? “We went through a tour of Australia in 2000, unable to win games and managed one victory by defeating Pakistan in a Tri-series match. I can never forget the loss in the Barbados Test while chasing 120 (in 1997). I also had to fight the notions about traditional spin and at certain points that hurt.”
After a superb Test career and an equally fine ODI stint (337 wickets), Kumble is still part of the game thanks to his various roles with the BCCI, ICC and Mumbai Indians.
“I miss the camaraderie but I don’t have any regrets because I gave everything that I could give to the game. Not many gave me a chance when I first played for India and from there to finish where I finally did, I can be proud of what I achieved,” he says.
