Jumbo takes off

Yesterday on the last day of the third test match at Kotla, Anil Kumble announced his retirement from test cricket. I must confess that personally I never liked Anil Kumble as a spinner. I never put him in the same class as Bishen Bedi or Shane Warne. He was more a medium pacer who had tremendous variation and control as opposed to a turner of the cricket ball. Having said that, I always admired Kumble for his humble persona and his meticulous planning. Be it with his game, photography or his general state of preparedness. He always seemed to be a studious person who went about planning with every bit of information that was known to him. His bowling too benefitted from this planning because he would think and plan each dismissal.

Kumble was also a die hard servant of the game. I still recall him bowling in West Indies with his jaw strapped in place with heavy bandage just because he thought India had a real chance of winning that game. His never say die spirit set an example for many young cricketers on how one should keep the game above personal achievements.

He goes out with his head held high and with the knowledge that the reigns are in the hands of another capable person, MSD. Well played Jumbo and hats off to you!!