Anil Kumble

Good Guys Win.At the End!
By Murli

Kumble's choice as Indian captain, may be late in coming, but it only goes to show that good guys win at the end…

He was supposed to fade away quietly into the sunset, but the sun is shining brightly on him. Anil 'Gutsy' Kumble, India's highest wicket taker and the third highest in the world, will now walk the 22-year ramp, as the captain of the Indian cricket team. The Smiling Assassin will once more bite the bullet, and go for the kill, plotting the batsman's downfall, as bowler and as skipper.

The good thing about Kumble's choice is, no one's saying he's isn't. And yet the world is not going to stop going round if he god forbid, fails. Why? Because, for all his stupendous feats, for some reason one cannot really fathom, he's no superstar like say, Sachin Tendulkar. All through his glittering long career, he has manfully taken on the burden of being the team's sole match-winning bowler, uncomplaining, like Atlas. Yet, he has never loomed larger than life like the other veterans in the team. Eg: When Sachin scores a century, people talk about it on and on, until he gets another. Whereas, when Kumble gets a five-for, we forget it by the time the next match begins, unless he takes another five-for.

There was a time when he was dropped. It now looks like a long way ago - that's one indication of his staying power and how he has come back for good. Critics ridiculed his style, poking fun at his lack of turn. He responded by becoming India's highest wicket taker; not just that, the wickets have come at a very healthy strike rate. They laughed at his overseas record. He went to Australia and took 24 wickets Down Under against the world's number one team.

At thirty-seven years of age, the only chink in his armour is his tired legs. But look at the way he dives in the outfield. Kumble has always believed in giving his 110%, every game, against every team, in any part of the world. Tired he definitely is, but his attitude has always been fresh, energetic and full of enthu, matching the vim and vigour of a debutant.

Larger than life he is not, but there have been occasions when his performances have transformed his image and given him the aura of a true superman. Like when he took ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan. Or still better, when he bowled with a broken jaw against the Windies, and took Brian Lara's wicket. That's the spirit Team India can and should emulate with Kumble at the helm.

What can one say about his bowling that has not been said before? Sunil Gavaskar once said that Kumble bowls like he expects to take a wicket every ball. His zeal to bowl is unwavered, from the first over of the day till the last ball at draw of stumps.

Given his attitude and achievements, is it any surprise that his choice has been unanimously welcomed by all the players? He also has an excellent track record as captain in Ranji trophy. Out of 22 matches, he has lost only 4 and won 18. Kumble's also the least controversial, is not identified with any particular group, and is comfortable with even those who have not been kind to him in the past, like Saurav Ganguly, who did not repose much faith in Kumble when he was captain. Kumble is not the sort to hold grudges and play mindgames - a great favorite of most of the Indian players!

Kumble's choice as Indian captain, may be late in coming, but it only goes to show that good guys win at the end…