Anil Kumble - A legend and a Gentleman

3rd November 2008 will forever be marked as a day when India’s second greatest test player, and India’s best bowler bid adieu to international cricket. To many, Kumble was a thorough gentleman. To his opponents he was a fierce competitor. To his compatriots he was simply Jumbo. I like to call him the Silent Killer, or simply Killer. He had the knack of picking up wickets whenever required. There would be an air of anticipation as soon as Kumble got the ball in his hands. For the better part of his career he was India’s Lethal Weapon.
Anil Kumble, age 38 years, has left international cricket amid emotional scenes today at the Ferozeshah Kotla. I, for one, had this feeling at the start of this match that this series would be Killer’s final. Even though he had failed miserably in the last couple of series, Anil Kumble will forever be remembered as one of India’s greatest champions. Who could forget 10-out-of-10. Not me as I was there to witness the one of the finest moment’s in Indian cricket. I still remember that match. Pakistan openers Afridi and Saeed Anwar were smashing Indian bowlers to a pulp. The crowd wanted Kumble. They knew if anyone could pick up a wicket then it was him. And Jumbo did not disappoint. In fact he went 9 more steps further by becoming only the second player in Test cricket history to take all 10 wickets in an innings.





































