Anil Kumble

मनस्वी म्रियते कामं कार्पण्यं न तु गच्छति । अपि निर्वाणम् आयाति न अनलः याति शीतताम् ॥

Translation: A strong-minded person can die on self-will, but will never attain pitiable state. Fire gets extinguished, but never becomes cool.

Cricket is a gentleman's game, but this image has been tarnished on many occasions. The desire to quench one's thirst for victory lures people into tossing their principles out of the window. However, there are people who never opt for shortcuts and remain true to their principles. Today we will be celebrating one such gentleman, who goes by the name of Anil Kumble.

He was one of the biggest match winners, India has ever had. A gritty cricketer, who never gave an inch. From "not being good enough to play for India", according to Kapil Dev, to becoming the leading wicket taker for India in ODI and test matches, Kumble demolished umpteen number of stigmas/stereotypes in his illustrious career. What stigma you ask? Bishan Singh Bedi was never happy with the pace at which Kumble used to bowl. It's not Kumble's fault, Bedi was old school. He was of the opinion that a leg spinner should give more flight and should induce the batsman to come forward and then beat him. But who is the most successful leg spinner currently? Rashid Khan, right? Shahid Afridi wasn't bad either. Kumble was a pioneer of sorts, because before him, I don't recall any spinner bowling as quick as he used to do.

If we sit and discuss Kumble's achievements, it will take all day, but some of them are worth mentioning. 10 wickets in an innings against a formidable Pakistan team, an 8-fer in Australia which is a graveyard for spinners, a test hundred in England etc, but the most iconic moment of his career, according to me, was when he came out to bowl with a fractured jaw and caught Brian Lara plumb in front. I have been hit in the jaw and I wasn't able to continue, trust me. The ball I faced was hardly 100-110 KMPH, but he was hit by a West Indian fast bowler. It was the paragon of daredevilry for me and it is stuck in my head to this day.

Apart from his exploits and discipline on the field, he is an exemplary disciplinarian off the field as well. The post match interview after the infamous Sydney test, was gutsy and hard hitting. Throughout his life, he called a spade a spade. The way he stepped down from India's coach position when Kohli made it clear that he wanted a sychophant and not a coach was a glimpse of the strong-willed and proud man he is. The best part of all the scandal was he never maligned Kohli, which he could have done easily. A classy fellow personified.

I can keep on writing about this LEGEND, but I will stop here and wish Sir Anil Kumble a very happy birthday and a happy Dussehra in advance. Thank you for everything and I hope you will help Punjab lift the IPL soon.

Nivu Uttamaru!