Anil Kumble - The gentle assassin

Behind those think glasses and grim demeanor was a man who carried the burden for Indian spin bowling for two decades

In cricket, looks were never so deceptive. When a bespectacled and studious looking boy from Bangalore went out to make his test debut against England at Old Trafford in August 1990, many thought that he would be more comfortable sitting in the first row of a classroom rather than on a cricket field. Few knew that behind those thick glasses and quite demeanor was a fierce competitor who would carry the burden of Indian spin bowling for the next 18 years.

Anil Radhakrishnan Kumble a.k.a Jumbo, was never a classical leg spinner. Unlike his contemporaries, the ability to prodigiously turn a cricket ball somehow eluded him.

For someone who started off as a medium pace bowler, Kumble relied more on his subtle variations in pace and length rather than the traditional flight and turn of a leg spin bowler. Like the great tall Aussie wrist spinner Bill O’Reilly and his own idol BS Chandrashekher, Kumble had a high arm action and bowled quicker through the air. His deliveres were more like darts which kicked onto the batsman after pitching and hurried them into a false shot. This method provided him stunning success, especially on wearing Indian wickets, where the ball exploded at the slightest hint of a crack, catching the batsmen off guard and getting leg before decisions in his favor.

A total of 619 wickets in 132 tests in an 18 year long international career, Kumble finished his career as the highest wicket taker for India and the third highest overall. His match winning abilities could be seen from the fact that out of his 619 wickets, 288 came in 43 tests which India won. He was the main stay of Indian bowling during the 90’s and took almost 31% of India’s wickets in his 132 tests. The fragility of the Indian batting line-up abroad meant that Kumble’s role was cut short to that of a containing bowler than an attacking one. Nonetheless, he still stood apart from the rest and took 269 wickets in his 69 away tests with a decent average of 35.85 and a strike rate of 74.5. Although his numbers may not be as good as Murlitharans or Warnes, but Kumble can boast of something which his other two contemporaries can’t – a test century against England at Oval in 2007

The highlight of Kumble’s illustrious career came in December 1999, when he ran through the Pakistan batting line up and took all ten wickets in an innings, an achievement only Jim Laker had managed before him.

Kumble was the main stay of Indian bowling for over a decade

Apart from being gifted cricketer, what separated Kumble from the rest was his never say die attitude. He showed his grit and determination in Antigua in 2002 when he continuously sent down 14 overs and dismissed Brain Lara while bowling with a fractured jaw. “It was one of the bravest things I’ve seen on the field of play” remarked Viv Richards after the match.

Although he was a master of his unique craft, the great thing about Kumble was that he always saw himself as a student of the game. With a child like enthusiasm to learn, day in and day out, he kept making fine adjustments to his skill and added new dimensions to his repertoire of leg spin bowling.

Less than a month after his 37th birthday, he received the ultimate honour when he was named India’s Test captain for the home series against Pakistan. He went on to win the series, a home series win against Pakistan after 27 years. The tour was followed by the controversial tour to Australia, where he made headlines with his statement to the press questioning the integrity of the Australian team after the Sydney test which proved his honesty and dedication towards the game. After serving Indian cricket for 18 long years, Kumble fittingly hung his boots at Feroz Shah Kotla after the third test of the Border Gavasker Trophy in 2008.

Post retirement, Kumble has taken over the Presidential duties of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and looks after the smooth running of cricket in his state.

Kumble along with other seniors laid the foundation of a world champion cricket team.

A man whose achievements were always overshadowed under the expoits of the famed batting quartet of Tendukar, Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly, Kumble was the most humble, unassuming man one could ever find. Although he wasn’t part of India’s World Cup winning campaign this year, the win was definitely a result of the seeds which Kumble sowed along with other seniors during the past two decades.

A total team man and a captain’s dream, he was never the one to shy away from responsibility. His gentlemanly nature made him a perfect ambassador for the game of cricket. An enthusiastic photographer, loving father and a committed friend – Anil Kumble was definitely a man of many interesting parts.

For those who thought he was better of sitting in a classroom rather than a cricket field, of course, he proved himself in both areas: he has a degree in engineering and a PhD in leg spin bowling.