Anil Kumble: Inspiration, leader, legend

The arrival of the twenty-first century saw Jumbo’s (called so because of his faster deliveries as well as his large feet) fighting qualities on full display for the entire world to see. Strapped around his lower jaw was a tightly-strung bandage; he had been struck by a Mervyn Dillon delivery while batting at Antigua in 2002. He went on to send down 14 overs, taking out Brian Lara, before heeding medical advice and leaving the field.

In 2007, having scored that long elusive Test hundred, retiring from ODI cricket, and mere days after celebrating his 37th birthday, the Bangalorean received the ultimate honour of Test captaincy after Dravid resigned. He led from the front, winning the home series against Pakistan, and it was his cool head that soothed the frayed nerves in the dressing room during the infamous Monkeygate scandal of 2008.

His stoic leadership, reminiscent of former Aussie skipper Bill Woodfull, rubbed off on his teammates, and they repaid their skipper’s faith in full by demolishing the home team at Perth in the next game. The story of how Virender Sehwag persuaded the veteran to let Ishant Sharma have an extended spell is now part of cricketing folklore.

In the same game, Kumble picked up his 600th victim in Test matches, joining fellow tweakers Muralitharan and Warne on the list. It re-affirmed his status as one of the greatest bowlers in the game.

But all good things come to an end, and for Anil, it was to be the third game of the 2008 return series against Australia. He injured the webbing on his bowling hand, and took it as a sign that his time had come. The elder statesman of the team was chaired off the field by his teammates, and an era of leg spin had come to an end.

There were more than a few tears shed that day.

Anil returned to action in the IPL, turning out for the Royal Challengers. After a disastrous first season, he took over the reins as skipper, and marshalled his young troops to the final for the first time. He would lead them to the semi-finals in 2010 as well, before hanging up his boots in 2012. Since then, he has gone on to be chief mentor for the Challengers, before taking up a similar post for the Mumbai Indians in 2013, and saw the blue brigade win both the IPL and Champions League titles.

Reams have been written of his immense contribution with the ball, but Kumble is such an unassuming, shy chap that people seldom remember his batting heroics along with his good friend Javagal Srinath against Australia in the Titan Cup. They brought the side back from the depths of despair with their clever little stand – their mothers cheering them on from the sidelines – and secured the unlikely win.

His innings of 88 against South Africa, sharing in a huge stand with Mohammad Azharuddin, also goes unnoticed by most; such is the dignity and humility with which the man carries himself.

In his current role as president of the KSCA, he has a fine supporting cast in place, with Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad joining him as secretary and vice-president, respectively. He also wears other hats in the administration area of the game, such as being chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, and serving on the athlete’s commission of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

Today, as the Arjuna & Padma Shri awardee celebrates his 43rd birthday, he remains the same calm, dignified and affable personality as he was on the field.

Happy Birthday, Jumbo!