Anil Kumble: An End to a Jumbo Era

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Anil Kumble: An End to a Jumbo Era

Pitched By Cricket360 Editor

Sunday, 02 November 2008

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Anil Kumble announces his decision to retire from test cricket in a huff. The decision is both expected and surprising. Kumble has been out of fitness and form for sometime and after Ganguly’s retirement , his was only expected. Kumble’s retirement will raise some eyebrows, regarding the timing of decision. However, Kumble has a long glorious history behind himself and such criticism should not mar the legend’s farewell.

Watch Video: Kumble Bowling his Last International Test Over

In a surprisingly expected development, Anil Kumble announced his retirement from international cricket today while the third test between India and Australia wasn’t yet over. The announcement was something everyone had been expecting for sometime. Kumble has been a little too unfit for competitive cricket of late with signs of age showing and his performance has been passable. Yet, in the true Indian dramatic demeanor, we never want to see our heroes fade away, jaded though they might be. Kumble has single-handedly engineered some of India’s most crucial victories and has remained contended being the unsung hero.

Records

Kumble is by far the most successful bowler India has ever produced. He is the highest wicket-taker for India in tests and the chances this record will be broken in near future is slim. He has led India to more victories than the Master Blaster Tendulkar. His world-record of ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan is still a matter of national pride to the Indians. In a career spanning 18 years, 132 tests and 619 wickets, Kumble has come a long way from a gawky engineer to a legendary cricketer.

Was the Timing Right?

There will be many voices questioning the timing of his decision. Dhoni will take the charge in the Nagpur test and Kumble let the final word out before the match concluded. But then, Kumble has never been the critics’ favorite. Doubts have always loomed on his ability to spin, his bowling loop, his pace and of late, his decaying fitness. He became the stock of speculations when he was appointed the test captain. Jumbo silenced them with his performance.

Inspirational!

Jumbo stands tall as a source of inspiration, not only to budding cricketers but to sportsmen, cutting boundaries of sport and nationality. A bandaged man bowling fourteen overs back-to-back, nailing Brian Lara a few hours before leaving for home for a surgery could only be Anil Kumble. The third test between India and Australia which concluded today had Kumble bowling and taking three wickets a day after he got 11 stitches in his hand.

It has been a series of farewells. We saw Sourav Ganguly bidding adieu to international cricket before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy started. Speculations became rife that this retirement will motivate the other four senior players of the team, Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Kumble to follow the line. The rumors surrounding BCCI’s Voluntary Retirement Scheme gained weight. With Kumble’s announcement of retirement today, this hearsay stuff is now here to stay.

Jumbo, as he is fondly called was visibly moved as the crowd applauded him for his contribution to the Indian cricket after a public announcement of his decision was made, reports Cricket360 . Kumble broke the news to his teammates individually and then to the chairman of selectors. The crowds chanting his name, everyone on field coming out to shake his hand as he bowled his last over, his fellows carrying him on shoulders around the ground, photographers and reporters thronging the field; the whole atmosphere bore a celebratory feel to itself, all conjuring up in a moment to say thanks and wish goodbye to the man who made the difference to the game we love.

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