5 things for which every cricket fan will always remember Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble bowling with a broken jaw was an inspiring sight

For his unparalleled commitment

If aspiring cricketers need a role model to look up to in terms of being committed to the game, they will not find a better one than Anil Kumble. He was a trier beyond boundaries throughout his career and this trait helped him a great deal in reaching where he finally did. Who can forget that effort in Antigua in 2002 where he bowled with a bandage around his fractured jaw? While bowling, he was relentless and had the ability to keep coming at the batsmen until he got the desired results.

With the bat in hand, he ensured he never threw his wicket away and used to be a trusted ally for the Dravids and the Laxmans. He was not the most acrobatic of fielders, yet he gave beyond 100 per cent on the field especially off his own bowling. His unmatched commitment was something that won him the trust of every captain he played under.

For his match-winning abilities

When you talk about winning matches for the country, there are very few Indian players that come anywhere close to Anil Kumble. Almost throughout the entire of the 90s, India had become a fortress which was nearly impossible to breach for touring teams, mainly in Test cricket. A lot of credit for this can safely be given to Kumble, who in combination with the likes of Srinath and Prasad, and later Harbhajan and Zaheer, managed to create havoc among opposition batsmen.

There were times, especially on the 4th or 5th day of a Test, when he used to become virtually unplayable and loomed as an intimidating shadow over the hapless batsmen. Towards the later part of his career, the legendary leg break bowler also found answers to those who questioned his bowling prowess on overseas pitches and produced some memorable performances. He is right there with the best in terms of match-winning capabilities.