Jumbo the Giant

When Anil Kumble decided to hang up his boots last evening, it brought a lump to my throat. I had followed his career all through those 18 wonderful years and it was exceedingly hard to beleive that the next time India play a test match, Jumbo wont be gliding down the wicket in search of his next victim. He was the shining light through 2 decades for Indian cricket and he was bang on target when he pointed out that Indian cricket was in much better shape when he was leaving than when he started out.

So what's so legendary about Anil, many may ask? So I decided to dedicate this piece in his honor. Anil's career has been in parallel with the Fab 4 and I know every miniscule detail of what they achieved and could have achieved in the great arena called 'Test Match Cricket' - a true mirror image of life's experiences encapsulated into 5 days.

Kumble made his debut in the year 1990. Thats when I was starting to understand what cricket was. My brother, 5 years elder to me knew much more obviously and was a major cricket buff (left to his choice, he still is). Thats how I started watching the game on TV. It was during one such TV broadcast of the 1992 South Africa series that I had the first glimpse of Anil Kumble. By then, having watched a full cricket world cup my understanding of the game for a 9 year old was first-class. Kumble was this bespectacaled, tall, wiry young man who would bound in with a jump in his action and produce deliveries that spat off the track with bounce and pace. They called him a leg-spinner but he looked more like a medium pacer who had a surprise faster delivery. Of course he was much better than that, as his records show. He was this fastish leg spinner from Bangalore in the Chandra mould, definitely influenced at some point in his young mind by that man with the freakish arm. In one test in Johanessburg Kumble scythed through the Proteas and brought get joy and cheer to the Indian fan for whom nothing had gone right through the series. That was the first impression that put Kumble into the reckoning as India's top spinner. 

It was a bleak time for Indian spin. After the famous quartet of the 70's many a spinner promised but never lasted long. Sivaramakrishan, Maninder, Hirwani all shone through briefly but lacked the single minded intensity and discipline. Someone had to emerge from the shadows and take up the mantle. Thats when Kumble with his unorthodox action and technique came through the ranks. His South African performance made him a surety for the 1993 home series against England, a landmark series in the history of Indian cricket.

His performance through that series against Gooch's men on red dustbowl pitches evoked awe from all those who saw him. He was literally unplayable. Top-spin, flipper, sharp bounce, sudden pace it was all there on view as the English batsmen were totally confounded in his web. It was the first whitewash they sufferd in India and it set the tone for most of the 90's under Azhar's leadership. Dusty tracks would be prepared and the captain would unleash Kumble on the hapless visitors after piling a moutain of runs with the help of another wonder boy named Sachin. Kumbles stock grew but the constant bowling on Indian pitches meant he was'nt expanding his repertoire as a bowler of international class. It was around the same time that Shane Warne had started his wizardry across different pitches and conditions all over the world. Kumble knew he would have to learn how to bowl on pitches abroad for India to win matches overseas. But before that transformation eventually happened in 2003, came a marquee moment in his career

Feb 1999, a cold wintry afternoon at the Kotla in Delhi. Pakistan well in pursuit of their target of 410. Kumble bounds in and picks up his first wicket. 9 more would follow in lightining quick succession and people gasped at what they saw. Kumble truly became a national icon after that performance when he annihilated the Pakistanis. It was a superlative performance that the Smiling Assasin would always cherish. Following this the expectations and the spotlight on his career grew immensely. A shoulder injury at this key moment in his career was most unfortunate. But when we look back today, it probably was the most impotant turning point in Indian Cricket's renaissance in the post Azhar era.

2001 - India faced the mighty Australians at home, a series every one expected the Indians to lose 3-0. After all with 16 wins on the trot there was no way an Indian team sans Kumble(hand in sling) could even think of challenging the Aussie juggernaut. The first test in Mumbai that ended in 3 days just showed how true the predictions were. Kumble silently worked with a young Harbhajan in the time between Wankhede and Eden, providing him ample advice and suggestions on how to unsettle the Aussies and the lines to bowl. What followed at Eden was sheer drama. A Bhajji hat-trick, a follow on, a double delight from VVS and a fighting century from Dravid all made sure the 5th day would be one that changed Indian cricket forever. The victory that day fuelled a surge whose drive can be felt to this day, 7 years down the line. Kumble the giant had played his part and the Aussies would sure acknowledge that.

Having missed such an important series and with Harbhajan suddenly pipping him to become the No.1 spinner, Kumble had to diversify and come back in a new avtaar that would make him the match winner again. To his credit he did this in fantastic style after the 2003 series down under. Before that came a most poignant moment in the Caribbean in 2002, when after he had missed India's victory in Port of Spain (with Ganguly the captain choosing Harbhajan over him), he came out with a fractured jaw to take the wicket of Brian Lara. Its a moment that will forever be associated with Kumble. He knew he would not be able to take any further part in that series, but that did not stop this man. David Shepherd who was umpiring in that match knew he had seen something out of the ordinary and immediately acknowledged it with a pat on the back. 

The following year India's ODI team continued their amazing vein of form in the last 24 months to carry them through to the finals of the World Cup in South Africa. As Sourav's men were stunned by the enormity of the occassion on that day one could'nt help but think what a difference Kumble's experience would have made to that bowling line up. He sat there in the pavilion hiding his extreme disappointment behind the shades as he was left out of the final 11 in favor of Harbhajan. India lost by a huge margin and Sourav's inept handling of Anil the champion will always evoke many a strong criticism at his captaincy.

But Kumble, ever the lion hearted team man would respond in terrific fashion later that year. As Harbhajan headed back home from Austraila due to a heel injury, Kumble got that break he so desperately wanted. Coming into the Adelaide test, he spun the game India's way on the 2nd morning and with it the whole momentum of the series as India went one up in the series. Kumble the complete bowler had finally arrived. At the SCG in Steve Waugh's farewell test, he single handedly took India to the brink of a series victory in Australia. Waugh's heroics and some poor keeping from Parthiv saved the day for the Aussies, but Kumble had made his statement loud and clear. He was well and truly back as India's No.1 spinner.

What followed was amazing success in Pakistan and then at home against the Aussies in 2004 and then West Indies under Dravid's captaincy in 2006. In the home series against England in 2005 he capturd his 500th wicket becoming the first Indian ever to get to that landmark. His batting improved as well when he slammed India's only century all through the 4 tests in the Oval in 2007 during the series victory. 

Following that tour Dravid resigned abruptly and the only shoulders broad enough to take up the burden of captaincy were those of Anil's. He took on the responsibilty at a very crucial juncture with Dhoni still in the grooming phase. The tour of Australia last year showed what a vital decision it was. The saga at the SCG was handled with amazing maturity and it was around Kumble the rock, that this team found the will and determination to put it across the Aussies at their fortress in Perth. It was truly one of the greatest moments in the careers of the Fab 5. Beating the Kangaroos at their mighty den was a dream come true. India had challenged them and shown to the world that they were on the way up. The tour also saw Kumble reaching the 600 wicket landmark -  a gigantic performance. 

Kumble has called it day at the perfect time. In Dhoni, India have found a vibrant, energetic leader who has caried on the mantle beautifully and showed it by beating the world champions 2-0 last month at home. The spin cupboard looks good as well with Mishra and Chawla competing for a spot. The old warrior knew his team was in a great shape for the future battles ahead. His choice of retiring at his beloved Kotla was spot on. It was the home away from home for him. 

Not only have Kumble's on field performances been spectacular but his behaviour off the field was exemplary all through such a long career. Never one to lose his cool or temper, he was a standout for the gentlemans spirit that the game embodies. Anil Kumble is one legend who will truly inspire many young cricketers. A role model and a great ambassador for the game, his example will be extremely hard to follow.  Those boots are mighty huge to fill, thats the legendary story of Jumbo's career - one that I have thoroughly enjoyed recollecting as I wrote this.